Meribeth (Nachtigal) Claassen

Meribeth Nachtigal Claassen

Meribeth Nachtigal Claassen, 72, of North Newton, died Monday (Sept. 27, 1999) at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis campus in Wichita.

She was born Dec. 10, 1926, in Henderson, Neb., to G. A. and Esther (Mouttet) Nachtigal. She married Henry Claassen June 1, 1948, in North Newton. He preceded her in death in 1995.

She graduated from Bethel College in 1948 with a bachelor of arts in music education. She taught vocal music in Wichita from 1965 to 1978. She was an active member of the Bethel College Mennonite Church and a Bethel College advocate and supporter of the college's mission. She was a docent at the Wichita Art Museum and Kauffman Museum in North Newton. She was an avid reader, an accomplished pianist and for many years she was an organist at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro and Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita.

Survivors include: two sons, Tom Claassen of Salina and Victor Claassen of Davis, Calif.; two daughters, Margaret Toews of North Newton and Susan Jantzen of Newton; one brother, Paul Nachtigal of Granby, Colo.; and 10 grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by her parents.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Bethel College Mennonite Church with the Revs. Norma Johnson and Steve Yoder presiding. There will be a private family burial.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, with family greeting friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Memorials may be sent to the Bethel College Handicap Accessibility Fund in care of the funeral home.