Dietrich A. Klaassen
Born: May 23, 1866
Place: Prangenau, South Russia
Died: November 27, 1927
Place: Halstead Hospital, Halstead, Kansas
Buried: M.B. Cemetery, Hillsboro, Kansas
MOTHER:
Helena Martens
FATHER:
Abraham Klaassen
SIBLINGS:
Abraham (Abe) A. Klaassen (9/30/1852 - Unknown)
Anna Klaassen (12/13/1853 - 1/27/1854)
Unnamed Daughter (10/27/1855 - 11/23/1855)
Johann (John) Klaassen (3/29/1857 - 9/9/1934)
Helena Klaassen (2/23/1859 - 8/22/1916)
Gerhard (George) Klaassen (7/31/1860 - Unknown)
Jacob Klaassen (3/21/1862 - Unknown)
Peter Klaassen (1/4/1864 - 1/4/1864)
Anna Klaassen (12/21/1864 - Unknown)
Aganetha (Agnes) Klaassen (11/21/1868 - 8/11/1944)
Peter A. Klaassen (10/28/1870 - 5/?/1939)
(twins) Catharina Klaassen (4/10/1872 - 5/1/1872)
(twins) David Klaassen (4/10/1872 - 4/18/1872)
Catherina Klaassen (12/31/1874 - 12/13/1874)
David Klaassen (1876, died shortly after birth)
(Dietrich had 15 brothers and sisters, 7 of whom died in infancy)
Dietrich with his five brothers
SPOUSE:
Aganetha Duerksen
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
Widowed: December 18, 1918
Dietrich with sons
Dick (left) and Arnold (right)
Taken 1918 shortly after wife's death
SPOUSE:
Helena Kroeker (9/21/1875 - 5/3/1925)
Married: October 10, 1920
Place: Hillsboro, Kansas
No children were born to this marriage
Widowed: May 3, 1925
BIOGRAPHY
Dietrich A. Klaassen was born on May 23, 1866 in Prangenau, South Russia to Abraham and Helena (Martens) Klaassen. He was one of 15 children born to this marriage, however, 7 died in infancy. He, along with his other 7 other brothers and sisters, grew up on a farm near Hillsboro, Kansas. At the age of 22, Dietrich was married to Aganetha Duerksen in a triple wedding with Heinrich & Helena (Friesen) Duerksen and Henry J. & Katherine (Duerksen) Rose on October 30, 1889 at Hillsboro, Kansas. Rev. J.S. Hirschler preached the sermon and Rev. H. Goertz performed the ceremony. Dietrich and Aganetha had 15 children, 14 of whom they raised to adulthood. Louisa, their 6th born child, died from the 1918 Flu Epidemic at age 21.
The Dietrich and Aganetha Klaassen Family
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
The D.A. Klaassen family believed in hard work and were known around town as the "Working Fools Family." However, there was nothing foolish about the Klaassens as they were also known as the richest family in Marion County. One day the girls (Eva, Susie, Sara and _______) went into town for a hat shopping spree and charged the entire purchase. Usually, merchants would not sell on credit, but they knew Dietrich was good for it. Dietrich had to take an entire loand of wheat into town and sell it in order to pay the bill. It was a big bill.
The Klaassen family had lots of company all the time including meal times. The upstairs N.W. room was a guest room. Newly weds slept there. The custom was that newly weds spent the first night at one of the parents' house.
A TRIBUTE TO DIETRICH A. AND AGANETHA (DUERKSEN) KLAASSEN
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
