View source for Klassen, John Julius (1905-1971)

[[File:KlassenJohnJulius.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Annie &amp; John Klassen 

'']]     John Julius Klassen: minister; born 7 February 1905 in [[Burwalde (Chortitza Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Burwalde]], [[Chortitza Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Chortitza Mennonite Settlement]], South [[Russia|Russia]] to Julius G. Klassen (7 February 1867-19 November 1941) and Anna (Klassen) Klassen (4 June 1869-10 April 1917).  He was the tenth child in a family of seven sons and six daughters.  On 14 November 1928 John married Justina Dyck (13 January 1910, Alexanderthal, [[Fürstenland Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Fürstenland]], South Russia - 18 November 1930, Cabri, Saskatchewan, Canada), the daughter of Johann Dyck and Katharina (Martens) Dyck, but in 1930 she passed away.  On 21 February 1937 in Cabri, Saskatchewan, John married Annie Dyck (b. 9 September 1916, Alexanderthal, Fürstenland, South Russia), daughter of Jacob Dyck (8 April 1897-3 July 1975) and Anna (Wiebe) Dyck (22 August 1896-7 October 1920).   Their first two children, Anna and Conrad, died in infancy.  John and Annie had four more daughters: Annie, Nettie, Betty, and Eveline.  John died 11 March 1971 in Burnaby, British Columbia and was buried in Vancouver.

In 1925 John was baptized by Elder Peter Neufeld in the [[Chortitza Mennonite Church (Chortitza, Chortitza Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Mennonite Church]] at [[Chortitza Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Chortitza]].  John immigrated to Cabri, Saskatchewan in 1926.  During the six-and-a-half years John was a widower he attended [[Herbert Bible School (Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Herbert Bible School]] and [[Winkler Bible Institute (Winkler, Manitoba, Canada)|Winkler Bible School]].  In 1937 while in Cabri, John was ordained as a minister.  He was called to work as a Sunday school teacher, choir leader, youth worker and evangelist, and taught for a year at the Swift Current Bible Institute.

In March 1938 John was called to Yarrow, BC where he helped to organize the [[Yarrow United Mennonite Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|Yarrow United Mennonite Church]]. The Klassens ministered there for almost twenty years.  During this time John also taught for a year at the Coghlin Bible School and a year in the [[Bethel Bible Institute (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Bethel Bible Institute]]. The Mission Board of the [[Mennonite Church British Columbia|Mennonite Conference of BC]] called John to minister in the [[Peardonville Mennonite Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Peardonville Mennonite Church]] in Abbotsford, BC in 1958.  They served there until 1963 at which time the Klassen family moved to Burnaby, BC.  In Burnaby John and Annie ministered to a group of 20 to 30 believers for a period of one-and-a-half years. The Klassens served the [[Oliver Mennonite Church (Oliver, British Columbia, Canada)|Oliver Mennonite Church]] in 1968.  During these years the Klassens made many house visitations, held Bible studies, ministered at funerals, performed weddings and prepared many people for [[Baptism|baptism]].  John also served as chairman of the board of [[Bethel Bible Institute (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Bethel Bible Institute]] in Abbotsford, BC for six years.

During these years the Klassens experienced many joys along with sorrows, but their service was a rich blessings to many.  The verses (Isaiah 53:5 and Romans 8:14) given to John at his baptism gave him assurance of salvation.  John passed this hope on to the many to whom he ministered.
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