GLENN KLASSEN

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GLENN KLASSEN May 11, 1956 - March 29, 2017 Peacefully, yet unexpectedly, Glenn passed away in his sleep on March 29, 2017 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Glenn was born and raised in Winnipeg. He is survived by his younger brother Kenneth (Nuo Yang). He was predeceased by his sister Susan, who died in infancy, and his parents Abram (Abe) and Adeline Amelia Klassen (nee Kindzierski). Glenn possessed an intense, life-long desire to learn and make sense of the world - one of his defining characteristics. His insatiable quest for knowledge became evident while attending Ness Junior High and Sturgeon Creek Regional Secondary School. Despite being subjected to frequent bullying, Glenn was a consistent honour student and multiple award-winner at divisional, provincial and national science and math fairs. After graduating from high school in 1974, Glenn earned two diplomas from Red River College, one in Instrumentation Technology and another in Electronic Technology. He joined the Canada Post Technical Services Team and retired in 2011 after 33 years of dedicated service. Glenn had many passions in his life, especially listening to and creating music. He was an accomplished pianist. Glenn's first major purchase as a young man was his beloved baby grand piano rather than a car. Glenn's interest in music spanned virtually all genres. He particularly enjoyed live performances at the Winnipeg New Music Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra events. Glenn's background in electronics, and ability with a keyboard, led him to build an extensive recording studio. This enabled him to compose and record his own electronic music inspired by pioneering artists such as Tangerine Dream, the German electronic music collective and Jean-Michel Jarre, a French composer and performer. Glenn's interest in Japanese culture manifested itself in origami, Japanese-style gardens and especially taiko drumming. Among Glenn's favourite activities during the past 15 years was enjoying the lively spirit and companionship of his fellow Genki Daiko drummers at the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. In a world where facts often no longer seem to matter, a discussion with Glenn was a welcome reprieve. An incisive thinker and blunt debater, he was easily the best-informed conversationalist on almost any topic. Glenn's natural curiosity and disdain for mainstream media led him to consume a staggering range of books, magazines, podcasts and documentaries reflecting alternative points of view. Seeking sanctuary from a harsh world, Glenn took refuge in science fiction and fantasy. Since a child, he had been an avid collector of sci-fi and superhero comic books and, later in life, graphic novels. He was raving fan of Russ Manning, creator of the fictional comic book superhero Magnus, Robot Fighter. Another early influence on Glenn were the works of science fiction and popular science by Issac Assimov. Glenn also had a keen interest in hand-drawn and computer animation, especially Japanese anime. He had a natural talent for drawing and a strong visual sense that he inherited from his mother. In his later years, Glenn began to explore the visual richness of colourization. An annual ritual and highlight for Glenn was planning and planting his organic vegetable and herb garden. For Glenn, the more exotic the plant the better with unusual tomatoes being his specialty. His lush garden was, at times, as much a horticultural experiment as it was a source of food to be shared with family, friends and neighbours. Primarily a secular humanist, Glenn applied logic, reason and naturalism in his two-year struggle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease that eventually led to his demise. However, he did not completely reject religion and found comfort towards the end of his life studying the traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices of Buddhism. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Glenn's life will be held on Tuesday, April 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 180 McPhillips Street. "The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing."
Publish Date: Apr 5, 2017

GLENN KLASSEN Glenn, son of the late Abe and Adeline (Dolly) Klassen, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at age 60. A celebration of Glenn's life will be held on Tuesday, April 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 180 McPhillips Street. Longer obituary to follow.

Publish Date: Apr 1, 2017

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 05, 2017