SUSANN ENNS (KLASSEN)

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SUSANN ENNS (nee KLASSEN) February 3, 1921- August 6, 2000 Susann Enns (nee Klassen), died early Sunday morning, August 6, 2000 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She is predeceased by her parents Daniel and Margaretha and ten siblings. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Frank; daughter Margaret; sons Garry and Victor; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral service will take place Friday afternoon, at 2:00 p.m. in the Bethel Mennonite Sanctuary on Stafford Avenue in Winnipeg with interment at Glenlea Cemetery south of Winnipeg. Viewing prior to the service. Susann Klassen was born on February 3, 1921 on the family homestead at Gruenthal near Altona. She attended Gruenthals one room country school, being taught for all grades by Kate Klassen, who became her role model. Susann attended high school in Altona and graduated from the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Man., and then attended Normal School in Winnipeg. Susann began her 32 year teaching career in Horndean in the 1940 and taught in schools in Thames, Kleinstadt, Blumenfeld, Gnadenfeld, Gretna, Altona, Winnipeg and Niverville. Susann obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees at University of Manitoba by attending night classes, and summer school, during most of her teaching years. Her love of nature, acquired along the banks of Buffalo Creek, led her to pursue her studies in science and biology. This became her her teaching specialization in her own alma mater, the Gretna Mennonite Collegiate Institute, as well as at W.C. Miller Collegiate in Altona, Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg and Niverville Collegiate. An avid naturalist, Susann imparted much of her love for nature to her family, especially to her grandchildren. A stroll outside was marked by discussions about plants, the weather, gestation cycles, ecology and the health of the environment. Upon retiring from Niverville Collegiate, and from teaching, she continued to tutor grandchildren as well as others. Susann always included student field trips in her teaching, and traveled as much as she could, including a retirement trip to Australia and travel to Germany. Summers often included travel to her daughter and son-in-laws cottage on the west coast. Baptized into the Bergthaler Mennonite church in her teens, Susann has worked with her husband Frank in church ministry since 1951, most recently as member of the Glenlea Mennonite congregation. In retirement Susann, and Frank, enrolled as hospital chaplains on a volunteer basis and provided counselling for patients in Winnipeg hospitals, in particular at the Victoria General Hospital. The family is grateful to the Surgical Ward and Palliative Care staff at St. Boniface Hospital for their caring support. This care carried Susan and her family through a very difficult summer in 1998 and was important to all of us in Susanns final hours. Arrangements are by Birchwood Funeral Chapel of Steinbach. Phone 1-888-454-1030. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the University of Manitoba Frank and Susann Enns Scholarship Fund, in care of The University of Manitoba, Financial Aid and Awards, Room 421 University Centre Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man., R3T 2N2.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2000