Bennie Klassen
Bennie Klassen, 83, died Wednesday (Jan. 6, 2010) at
Presbyterian Manor in Newton.
He was born in Goessel on Nov. 24, 1926, to Gerhard Johann
and Anna Harder Klassen, the seventh of eight children.
In danger of losing their lives, Bennie's parents emigrated
from Russia in 1923 after the Russian Revolution, arriving first in Chiquaqua,
Mexico, and finally in Goessel. The family moved to Elbing when Bennie was 4
and his mother, Anna, died of typhus when he was 6 years old.
Bennie was baptized into the Christian faith as a teenager
and was an active participant and member of Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing and
later, Koerner Heights Church in Newton.
Bennie married Marie Graves on May 25, 1952, at Zion
Mennonite Church in Elbing.
Upon graduating from Whitewater High School, Bennie joined
his brothers, Pete and George, in running a grocery and hardware business in
Elbing called Klassen's Store, but known to locals as "Bennie's."
"Bennie's" was a central gathering place for the locals, especially
Berean Academy students. Bennie gave away more candy than he sold, always a
sucker for the little towns kids. The grocery business and all his customers
were the joy of Bennie's life and, after more than 50 years of running the
Elbing business, he took just one weekend off and joined Dillon's store in Newton
on a Monday morning in 1992, where he worked in the produce section until the
age of 80.
Bennie is survived by his wife, Marie, of the home in
Newton; a son, Mike Klassen of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Emily
Graber Klassen of Cedar Falls; two of his siblings, Pete Klassen of Whitewater
and Wanda Plank of Wichita; three grandchildren, Scott, Robb and Jeni Klassen;
and many nieces and nephews.
His parents, including his stepmother, Sarah, have long
passed, along with four siblings. One of Bennie's sisters was stillborn.
Bennie was a very sweet and gentle man, always ready with a
joke and beautiful smile, happiest in a grocer's apron, and a person who loved
being with other people, especially his customers and family. He will be sorely
missed.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday at Broadway
Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, with the family greeting visitors from 5 to 7
p.m.
Burial will be prior to the memorial service at Zion
Mennonite Church Cemetery in Elbing. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m.
Saturday at Koerner Heights Church of the Mennonite Brethren.
Memorials may be made to Koerner Heights Church of the
Mennonite Brethren, with contributions sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home,
120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Friends may sign the book and read the obituary online at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
