July 15, 1931 - October 8, 2020
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Margaret Klassen on October 8, 2020. She went peacefully and quite beautifully in her sleep with family holding her hands.
Margareta Neumann was born July 15, 1931 in Bredenbury, Saskatchewan the fourteenth of sixteen children born to Heinrich and Sarah Neumann. In 1932 Margaret moved to Gem, Alberta and in 1945 to Sardis, British Columbia.
Margaret returned to her studies as a young adult to complete high school and then enrolled in what was known as "Normal School" in order to obtain her teaching certificate. It was there that she met her future husband, Henry Klassen. They were married on August 22, 1954 and began their first year of marriage teaching in Vancouver.
Margaret enjoyed her teaching years in Vancouver, for the Abbotsford School District, at the Mennonite Educational Institute, and finally teaching English at the Chongqing Medical University in Chongqing, China. A lifetime of employment and volunteering included retail sales at Woodwards, teaching ESL at Bakerview Church and managing the MCC Thrift Shop.
Her greatest joy and contentment came from her roles as wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was predeceased by her husband of sixty-one years, Henry Klassen, and is survived by her five daughters, Kathy Peters (Henry), Karen Welsh (Ken), Lynn DuMerton (Mark), Lori Nickel (Norm) and Jean Bergen (Harvey). She is also survived by her fourteen grandchildren, their partners and 19.5 great-grandchildren.
A family only service is planned for October 19, 2020 with burial to follow at the South Poplar Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Palliative Complex Care Unit at ARH who cared so attentively and lovingly to both our mother as well as to us. Many thanks also to Dr. G. Heffner. Donations may be made to one of Margaret's favourite ministries MCC Canada
Online condolences to the family may be made at www.woodlawnfhabbotsford.com
Woodlawn Funeral Home