Klassen, Peter J. (1870-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Feb 9 p. 6

Birth date: 1870 Aug 22

text of obituary:

. . .

— Peter J. Klassen, 90, another of the aged pioneers who came to the central Kansas area from Russia in the 1870's, died at the Salem Hospital in Hillsboro Wednesday morning. He was born Aug. 22, 1870 and came to the U. S. at the age of five,. He farmed in McPherson County for a number of years, moving to Hillsboro 31 years ago. Surviving are his aged widow of the home, one son, three daughters, 15 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren and one brother, B. J. Klassen of Goessel. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Alexanderwohl church, Rev. John Thiessen officiating.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Feb 16 p. 6

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services for the aged Peter J. Klassen of Hillsboro were held Sunday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl church near Goessel, Rev. John Thiessen officiating, assisted by Cornelius Rempel. Mr. Klassen died at Hillsboro Feb. 8 at the age of 90. Coming from a distance for the funeral were his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Duerksen, who are in charge of the Mennonite Memorial Home at Bluffton, Ohio.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Mar 2 p. 8

text of obituary:

PETER J. KLASSEN

Peter J. Klassen, was born Aug. 22, 1870 in the village of Elizabethtal, South Russia, the son of Johan [sic Johann] and Sara (Unruh) Klassen.

In 1875 as a child five years old, he came with his parents to America and settled on a farm in McPherson County, Kan. He shared the problems and difficulties of pioneer life in a new country. His education could not be carried out as he would have desired, yet he graduated from the Bible Academy, under teacher Rev. Peter Balzer.

On Pentecost, June 10, 1889, he was baptized upon the confession of faith in Jesus Christ by Rev. Jacob Buller and was received into the membership of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, where he was a faithful member until he entered his eternal home.

On Sept. 16, 1896 he married Maria Fehdrau. They established themselves on a farm four miles southwest of Goessel, Kan., where all five of their children were born.

About 1920 they retired from farm life and moved to Hillsboro. In September, 1921 they celebrated their silver wedding, and in September, 1946, their golden wedding anniversary. They observed their diamond jubilee in 1956 and would have been married for 65 years next September.

On Jan. 30 he began to feel pain in his body, and was admitted to the hospital. He suffered severe pain for five days. The pain gradually became less, but his strength also decreased. At 2:15 a.m. on Feb. 8, the call came and he peacefully fell asleep. He reached the age of 90 years, five months and 16 days.

Preceding him in death were one son, Gerhart [sic Gerhard], three grandchildren, Arlo Klassen and Stewart and Delpha Janzen. Survivors include his widow, Maria, one son, Rudolph and wife Esther; three daughters, Kathryn and husband Abr. Duerksen, Ella and husband Ernst Schmidt, and Irma and husband Otto Janzen; one brother Benjamin, one brother-in-law, four sisters-inlaw, 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. — Mrs. Maria Klassen and Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1961 Apr 18 p. 271

text of obituary:

Peter J. Klassen, member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, Kansas, was born August 22, 1870, in Russia, and died February 8, 1961.