KLASSEN; Henry
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Henry Klassen on July 15, 2016 at Abbotsford Regional Hospital. Henry was born on September 8, 1930 in a house on a wheat farm in Dunrae, Manitoba. He was the 8th of 11 children born to Kornelius and Helena Klassen. He met his future wife Margareta Neumann in 1954 while attending normal School in Vancouver and they married later that year. They moved to Abbotsford, BC where they raised their five daughters. Henry spent 30 years teaching at Mennonite Educational Institute followed by 2 years in Chongqing, China Medical University with Margaret. He concluded his career with 15 years of teaching inmates for Corrections Canada to which he remarked that he finally found his captive audience. Henry is fondly remembered as a life-long teacher and a tireless volunteer for MCC, specifically involved in their annual relief sale. Henry and Margaret were charter members at Bakerview MB Church where he served for 50 years in various capacities. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grand-father. He was Margaret and his five daughter’s greatest cheerleader and we will miss his voice of affirmation and encouragement. Henry is survived by Margaret his loving wife of 61 years, daughters Kathy Peters, Karen Welsh (Ken), Lynn DuMerton (Mark), Lori Nickel (Norm), Jean Bergen (Harv), 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Henry’s memorial service will be held on Friday, July 22, 2016 at 11:00 am at Bakerview MB Church, 2285 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford. Flowers gratefully declined, but donations may be made to two of Henry’s favorite ministries MCC or MB Mission. Online condolences to the family may be made at:
www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com
Woodlawn Funeral Home 604-853-2643