Henry Claassen

1930 - 2004

Henry Claassen passed into the presence of his Lord, surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at MSA Hospital, after a courageous six-month battle with cancer.

Henry was born in Prangenau, Germany, on March 9, 1930. In 1951, after the death of his father Henry, his mother and three younger siblings immigrated to Canada and settled in Yarrow, BC. On September 2, 1956 he married his beloved wife Hilda (Froese).

Henry was pastor at the United Mennonite Church in Yarrow for 20 years. They moved to Abbotsford and Henry became Chaplain at the Menno Home where he enjoyed ministering to the elderly until his retirement in 1995. Henry was a skilled and talented gardener and his immaculately manicured yard was a testimony to that. He loved God passionately and that love overflowed to his wife, children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed and his family will forever cherish their memories of him

Henry was predeceased by his parents, a sister in infancy and grand-daughter Lindsay.

Henry will be remembered by his dear and faithful wife of 48 years, Hilda, and his children: Norm (Irene) and their children Breanne; Jeffrey and Mitchell; Barb (Ron Martens) and their children Mike and his wife Meagan, Scott, Kristin and Josh; Marlene (Gerald Janzen) and their children Erin, Brad and Tyler; Don (Alana) and their children Alyssa and Jaiden and great grand-daughter Brooklyn.

Viewing was held on Monday, December 27 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Northview Community Church, 32040 Downes Rd. Services were held on Tuesday, December 28 at Northview Community Church, 32040 Downes Rd. Interment followed at Maclure Rd. Cemetery, Abbotsford, BC, Pastor Jim Ratzlaff officiating.




Hilda Claassen (Froese)

1934 -2018

Hilda Claassen (ne Froese) went peacefully to her new heavenly home to be with Jesus in the early hours of July 28th 2018.

Our Mom was born on September 22nd 1934 in Einlage, Russia which is now the Ukraine. Mom was the fourth child born to Jakob & Susanna Froese. Mom’s three older sisters Mika, Jutta and Elsie were happy to have another sister to play with. Mom’s happy childhood was cut short with the beginning of the war. (WW 2).

In 1947, help came from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and from Mom’s dear Uncle Jacob and Tante Nela Plenert who lived in Yarrow. The four sisters and their mother were granted permission to immigrate to Canada under the sponsorship of the Plenerts.

Our Mom met her future husband Henry Claassen at a youth function at the Yarrow United Mennonite Church and they were married on September 2nd 1956.

Mom was a faithful and devoted Pastor’s wife as well as a mother to four children and later she became a devoted grandmother to 12 grandchildren and a great grandmother to 10.

Our Mom loved to do needlework, walk whenever she could and loved to sing! However, her greatest passion was to express her love for Jesus in any way she could.

Mom was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Henry Claassen, two grandchildren Lindsay Janzen and Scott Martens and her sister Jutta Vogt.

Hilda will be greatly missed by her children: Norm & Irene Claassen, Barb & Ron Martens; Marlene & Gerald Janzen and Don Claassen, ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; and her sisters Mika Kliewer and Elsie Dyck.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christine Morrison Hospice in Mission where Mom received excellent care for the last month of her life after a courageous wo-year battle with cancer. Memorial Service for Hilda Claassen was at the South Abbotsford Church.