Obituary of Pauline Klassen

Pauline (Janzen) Klassen Pauline Klassen, nee Janzen was born in Rosthern, SK, on August 27, 1927 to Peter and Maria (Martens) Janzen, she was the nineth of ten children in the family. Pauline attended Eigenheim School and the Eigenheim Mennonite Church. In 1946 she was baptized on the confession of her faith by Rev. G.G. Epp. On November 26, 1952, Pauline was united in marriage to Herman Klassen, also from Eigenheim, they lived in the area that winter and then moved to the Blaine Lake area for a year. In the spring of 1954, Herman and Pauline moved to Sandwith and began farming. Five boys were born into the family, Ronald, Timothy, Robert, David and Lloyd. Raising sons and participating in the work of the farm kept Pauline very busy, she grew a big garden and served lots of potatoes over the years. Cooking meals, baking buns and mending were a constant part of her life as wife and mother. Sadly, tragedy touched their family on August 1, 1973 when Timothy died in a drowning accident. Pauline and Herman were active members of the Glenbush Hoffnungsfelder Mennonite Church where Pauline taught Sunday school for many years. Pauline was a faithful participant in the Glenbush Ladies Aid as they served meals, sewed quilts, met for Christian fellowship and raised money for missions. Pauline enjoyed the Sandwith community and connecting with friends and neighbors. She took art lessons and painted and even curled for several winters. With her warm and accepting personality, she welcomed strangers and friends into the church and into her home, she took a real interest in people, and liked to see if she could discover links with them through a common history or genealogy. As her sons got married, she welcomed daughters in law and grandchildren into her heart. Singing gave Pauline much joy, she sang first in the Children's Choir in Eigenheim and then the adult choir, her alto voice added beautiful harmony to the Glenbush mixed quartet, which included Herman, to woman's trios and to choirs and congregational singing over the years. She and Herman were members of the local Gideons Camp for 30 years. From 1988 to 1990, Pauline and Herman served as volunteers at the Timber Bay Children's Home, where Pauline helped in the kitchen and wherever needed, she declared that those two years of relating to the school children and co workers were the best time of her life. In later years, Pauline and Herman did a lot of traveling together. Pauline always enjoyed getting out, whether it was touring the Holy Land or Australia and New Zealand, driving the distant parts of the United States or Canada, or going to the pasture to see the cattle. Pauline and Herman moved from the farm into a new house in Sandwith in 1991. As the years went by, Pauline began falling and suffering from strokes which made walking increasingly difficult for her. In April of 2006, Pauline moved to the nursing home in Spiritwood where she took real pleasure in all the activities there. Special thanks go to the staff who loved her and cared for her so well. As her speech failed, Pauline continued to have a strong hand grip for Herman and her visitors. Pauline died on November 5, 2009 to be with the Lord Jesus whom she loved. Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 57 years, Herman; sons Ron, Robert, David, and Lloyd and their families and siblings Marie Funk, Catherine Neufeld, Helen Klassen and Bill Janzen. Pauline was predeceased by her parents, her son Timothy, her siblings Margaret Epp, Sarah Epp, Jake Janzen, Pete Janzen and Suzie Stobbe. The Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 2 p.m from the Sandwith Community Hall, Sandwith, Sask with Rev. Don Unger as officiant, the music was directed by Sharon Janzen and the soloist was Barb Szasz, the eulogy was given by Jean McNabb, the honorary pallbearers were All relatives and friends who shared in Pauline's life, the pallbearers were Ron Klassen, Robert Klassen, Dave Klassen, Lloyd Klassen, Michael Klassen and Rochelle Klassen. Pauline was laid to rest in the Hoffnungsfelder cemetery. In memory of Pauline memorial donations may be made to Gideons or Spiritwood Health Complex Foundation.