Aganetha Duerksen
Married Name:
Aganetha Duerksen Klaassen
Born: August 13, 1869
Place: Gnadenthal, South Russia
Died: December 18, 1918
Place: Hillsboro, Kansas
MOTHER:
Aganetha Balzer
FATHER:
Johann Duerksen
SIBLINGS:
Maria B. Duerksen
Johann J. Duerksen
Heinrich J. Duerksen
Helena B. Duerksen
Peter J. Duerksen
Katherina B. Duerksen
Jacob J. Duerksen (1/16/1867-1/26/1867)
Cornelius B. Duerksen
Gerhard J. Duerksen
Eva B. Duerksen
Anna B. Duerksen
Susanna B. Duerksen
David B. Duerksen
SPOUSE:
Dietrich A. Klaassen
Married: October 30, 1889
Place: Hillsboro, Kansas
CHILDREN:
Aganetha D. Klaassen
Helena D. Klaassen
Isaac D. Klaassen
Anna D. Klaassen
Maria D. Klaassen
Louisa D. Klaassen
Tina D. Klaassen
Benjamin D. Klaassen
Eva D. Klaassen
Susanna D. Klaassen
Sara D. Klaassen
David D. Klaassen
Herman D. Klaassen
Dietrich D. Klaassen
Arnold D. Klaassen
BIOGRAPHY
Aganetha Duerksen was born on August 13, 1869 in Gnadenthal, South Russia to Johann and Aganetha (Balzer) Duerksen. She was the 9th of 14 children born to this marriage. At age 20, she was married to Dietrich A. Klaassen in a triple wedding ceremony on October 30, 1889. The two other couples were brother, Heinrich who married Helena Friesen and her sister Katherine who married Henry J. Rose. Rev. J.S. Hirschler preached the sermon and Rev. H. Goertz performed the ceremony.
Dietrich and Aganetha in their horse carriage
Dietrich and Aganetha raised 15 children of their own on a farm near Hillsboro, Kansas until the dreaded 1918 Flu Epidemic hit the Klaassen household. Aganetha died from this epidemic at age 49. Nine days later, it also took the life of one of her daughters, Louisa who was only 21 years old.
A TRIBUTE TO DIETRICH A. AND AGANETHA (DUERKSEN) KLAASSEN
Back Row L to R: Anna, Lena (Mrs. Ensz), Aganetha, Susanna, Eva, Sara, Mary, Louise, Tina
Front Row: Benjamin, Isaac, G.D. Ensz and Marie Ensz, Aganetha, David, Dietrich, Herman
D.A. and Aganetha (Duerksen) Klaassen wanted to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on October 30, 1940, but on October 27, their youngest son, a husky boy, Arnold was born. There was no choice but to postpone the celebration until a later date. So the date was set for December 14, 1914. Father hired a lady to tend baby Arnold during the whole procedure. The house was filled with the 14 brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law and nephews of little brother Arnold, and many guests.
One day when Arnold was upper grade school age he was very much surprised to learn that Lena was his sister and George D. Ensz his brother-in-law and that their children were his nieces and nephews. He had taken for granted that the Ensz family members were intimate friends that would come and visit them often.
Mother Aganetha often quoted Lam. 3:22 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not.” She quoted it in German though.
It was in the winter of 1918 when the flu epidemic spread in the community and hit the Klaassen family, among many others. Mother became sick and died two days later. She was only 49 years old and left 8 minor children behind. They were very lovingly cared for by the eldest sister, Agnes, through the years that followed. Only nine days after mother’s death, 21-year-old sister Louise, was taken by the dreaded epidemic. To prevent spreading the flu, churches were under quarantine and funerals had to be conducted in the homes of the deceased.
Written by Tina (Klaassen) Thiessen
