1926
Bennie
2010
Bennie Klassen
November 24, 1926 — January 6, 2010
Bennie Klassen, 83, died Wednesday, January 06, 2010 at the Presbyterian Manor in Newton, Kansas.
He was born in Goessel, Kansas on November 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, Kansas. The family moved to Elbing, Kansas when Bennie was four and his mother, Anna, died of typhus when he was six 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 the 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 townskids. The grocery business and all his customers were the joy of Bennie’s life, and after over 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.
His parents, including his step-mother, Sarah, have long passed, along with four siblings.
One of Bennie’s sisters was stillborn.
Bennie is survived by his wife Marie of the home in Newton; one son Mike Klassen of Cedar Falls, Iowa; one daughter-in-law Emily Graber Klassen of Cedar Falls, Iowa ; two of his siblings, Pete Klassen of Whitewater, Kanas and Wanda Plank of Wichita; three grandchildren Scott, Robb and Jeni Klassen; and a slough of nieces and nephews.
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 held at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home on Friday, January 8 from 1:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with the family greeting visitors from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Burial will be held prior to the Memorial Service at the Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery, Elbing, Kansas.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Koerner Heights Church of the Mennonite Brethren at 11:00 A.M.
Memorials may be made to Koerner Heights Church of the Mennonite Brethren or the Barean Academy, contributions may be 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
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, Ks.
He was born in Goessel, Kansas on November 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, Kansas. The family moved to Elbing, Kansas when Bennie was four and his mother, Anna, died of typhus when he was six 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 the 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 townskids. The grocery business and all his customers were the joy of Bennie’s life, and after over 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.
His parents, including his step-mother, Sarah, have long passed, along with four siblings.
One of Bennie’s sisters was stillborn.
Bennie is survived by his wife Marie of the home in Newton; one son Mike Klassen of Cedar Falls, Iowa; one daughter-in-law Emily Graber Klassen of Cedar Falls, Iowa ; two of his siblings, Pete Klassen of Whitewater, Kanas and Wanda Plank of Wichita; three grandchildren Scott, Robb and Jeni Klassen; and a slough of nieces and nephews.
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 held at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home on Friday, January 8 from 1:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with the family greeting visitors from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Burial will be held prior to the Memorial Service at the Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery, Elbing, Kansas.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Koerner Heights Church of the Mennonite Brethren at 11:00 A.M.
Memorials may be made to Koerner Heights Church of the Mennonite Brethren or the Barean Academy, contributions may be 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
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, Ks.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bennie Klassen, please visit our flower store.
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