Herman D. Klaassen
Born: March 28, 1911
Place: Hillsboro, Kansas
Died: January 10, 1992
Place: Hillsboro, Kansas
Buried: Walton Cemetery, Walton, Kansas
MOTHER:
Aganetha Duerksen
FATHER:
Dietrich A. Klaassen
SIBLINGS:
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
Dietrich D. Klaassen
Arnold D. Klaassen
SPOUSE:
Kathryn Hildebrandt (7/11/1911 - 10/31/1985)
Married: April 18, 1937
Place: Zoar Mennonite Church, Inman, Kansas
CHILDREN:
Darlene F. Klaassen (born: 3/27/1935)
Ima Jean Klaassen (born: 9/27/1940)
Dayle Dean Klaassen (born: 10/21/1944)
Joyce Elaine Klaassen (born: 6/26/1950)
Widowed: October 31, 1985
BIOGRAPHY
Herman D. Klaassen was born to Dietrich and Aganetha (Duerksen) Klaassen, March 28, 1911 at Hillsboro, Kansas.
At the age of seventeen, he received Christ as his Savior, was baptized and accepted as a member of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
As a teenager Herman’s adventuresome spirit took him to Texas where he worked as a cowboy. Returning to Kansas he married Kathryn Hildebrandt on April 18, 1937 at the Zoar K.M.B. Church near Inman, Kansas.
Herman and Kathryn lived in Tulia, Texas until the dust storms caused them to relocated in Arkansas. Herman purchased a small herd of registered Jersey cows and had them delivered from the King Ranch in Texas to their farm near Siloam, Arkansas. Here they made their living with their small dairy and an apple orchard. When apples sold for 10 cents a heaping bushel and no jobs were available in the area, they again relocated. They moved to Collinsville, Oklahoma to a farm originally belonging to Herman’s father. (At this time owned by his brother-in-law, Herman Brandt.). Here Herman and Kathryn spend 14 years farming and dairying. It was here Herman taught Darlene, Ima and Dayle to love country life and all the animals. He taught them to appreciate some of his favorite pastimes, such as hunting, fishing and taught them the values of accomplishing a good days work and still take time to enjoy life. A good days work involved chores and teaching each child the “art” of milking a cow while balancing on a T-stool and not dropping the bucket while they were busy sneaking squirts of milk to the family cats.
Herman and Kathryn
with Darlene and Ima Jean
Herman always longed to move “home”. In 1952 he moved his family “home” to Kansas. Joyce was born shortly before this move. After moves from Hillsboro, Inman, Newton and rural Walton, Herman purchased a home in Walton, Kansas in 1957. This became the home to Dayle and Joyce.
On October 31, 1985, his wife, Kathryn, went to be with her Lord. A year later, due to a severe stroke, Herman again relocated, moving to Parkside Homes at Hillsboro, Kansas (2 miles from the place of his birth).
Herman was a member of the Walton Mennonite Church. He was always active in each church he attended, serving as Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, Usher and Chorus Member. He was always willing to serve where he was needed. This love for the Lord and His church Herman made sure he taught his children. Herman’s favorite Bible verses were 1 John 5:1-7.
In the early morning on Thursday, January 9, 1992, Herman made his last move. This time moving “Home” to the “Home” he so longed for, to be with his Lord.
Preceding Herman in death were his parents Dietrich and Aganetha Klaassen; 5 brothers, Isaac Klaassen, Benjamin Klaassen, David Klaassen, Arnold Klaassen, and Dietrich Klaassen; 7 sisters, Louise Klaassen, Agnes Just, Anna Jost, Lena Ensz, Mary Thiessen, Sara Bell; and His Wife, Kathryn Hildebrandt Klaassen.
Herman leaves to mourn, a Son, Dayle Klaassen, Pittsburg, Kansas; Daughters, Darlene and husband Malvin Schmidt, Hillsboro, Kansas; Ima Oliver, Inman, Kansas; Joyce Graber, St. Louis, Missouri; Grandsons, Jerry Schmidt, Salina, Kansas; Leroy and Diane Schmidt, McPherson, Kansas; Kelly Schmidt, YaKima, Washington; Leon and Ruth Heidebrecht, Inman, Kansas; Granddaughters, Malvina and Daniel Heinrichs, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Linda and Steve Innes, Belton, Missouri; and Gabrielle Graber, St. Louis, Missouri; and 4 Great-Grandsons, Jeremy Schmidt (Son of Leroy and Diane Schmidt); Steven and Aaron Heidebrecht (Sons of Leon and Ruth Heidebrecht); Eric Heinrichs (Son of Daniel and Malvina Heinrichs); and 1 Great-Granddaughter, Brittani Heinrichs (Daughter of Daniel and Malvina Heinrichs); Sisters, Susie Winter and husband Ed, Hillsboro, Kansas; Eva Brandt of Wichita, Kansas; and Sister-in-law, Frieda Klaassen of Hillsboro, Kansas.
