SARA KLASSEN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

SARA KLASSEN On July 4, 2011, Sara Klassen, age 95 went to be with the Lord at Third Crossing Manor. She was born February 23, 1916 in Schoenau, Russia to Gerhard and Sara Voth (nee Harms). Her father passed away when she was not quite three years old. Her mother remarried Jacob Wiebe. Sara's parents, with four daughters, left Russia in September of 1926. They came over on the Empress of France. They arrived in Winnipeg October 24, 1926 at the C.P.R. Station. They settled six miles south of Steinbach known as Burwalde. When Sara turned fourteen she went to work in Winnipeg as a live in housekeeper/nanny. She met John Klassen and they married in 1935 at Steinbach, Manitoba. They didn't have a horse and buggy so she and John and their infant son rode to church on a bicycle. In July of 1941 they moved to Winnipeg with three children, house, barn, chickens and a cow. Two years later they had another daughter. They joined North Kildonan MB Church. In 1958 they became foster parents. Over a period of six years, twenty-seven children were cared for in their home. In the years following Sara held various jobs in the capacity of cook. After the war years, the Klassens were part of a group of people who assisted displaced war relatives to come to Canada. Sara and John were part of the founding of the McIvor MB church where Sara worked for years as the food convener. In their retirement years Sara and John enjoyed many activities which included bowling, curling, golfing and get-togethers with friends and family. They moved to Gladstone upon retirement. There they enjoyed gardening and doing various odd jobs around the yard. They went on many trips and wintered in Texas for approximately fifteen years. Church was always a high priority so they found a church family wherever they travelled. They enjoyed seventy years of marriage. She leaves to mourn her passing, one son John Klassen (Kathy); three daughters Margaret Bryans (Fred), Hildegard Vandenlyllaardt (Dirk) and Elfriede Johnson (Ken); grandchildren Vern Klassen (Chelsea), Nadine Blair (Aaron), Linda Giescrecht (Vic), Lorraine Redekopp, Lois Thiessen, June Redekopp, Robert Vandenbyllaardt (Lenore), Amanda Single (Darren), Marguerite Duthie, Richard Johnson (Denise), and Annissa McLean (Joseph); great-grandchildren Patric, Elijah, Seth, Andrew, Caitlyn Klassen, Danielle, Jack and Wesley Blair, Jennifer Sneesby (Marshall), Lindsey Andres (Keith), Amy Unger (Tennesy), Dylan and Thomas Thiessen, K'laya Vandenbyllaardt and Alex Single, Charmaine and Christopher Duthie, Brittany and Taylor Johnson, and Joseph McLean Jr.; and two great-great grandchildren, Jenae Sneesby and Carter Andres. She was predeceased by her husband John; her parents and step-father; three sisters as well as two grandsons Wayne Redkopp and Dirk Vandenbyllaardt Jr. Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Gladstone Christian Fellowship Church, Gladstone with Pastor Randy Fehr officiating. Interment will take place at 3:30 p.m. at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens, Winnipeg. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to Valley View Bible Camp, Box 430, MacGregor, MB R0H 0R0 or a charity of one's choice. The family will miss her very much but we know that she now has a new body and is in the presence of the Lord. Clarke's Funeral Home, Gladstone in care of arrangements. www.clarkesfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 06, 2011