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.
