John Klassen Obituary, Quinte Cremation and Burial Services Website
John Klassen was born at home on September 18, 1934, on his family’s farm in Plum Coulee, Manitoba. He died at home on November 1, 2021, surrounded by family and the farmland of Prince Edward County. The ninth of twelve children born to Katharina and David J. Klassen, John often told stories of his childhood days and enjoyed speaking his mother tongue of Low German. John loved rocks and numbers. He graduated as a geological engineer from the University of Manitoba, working summers as a surveyor on the rivers and lakes of northern Manitoba, and in the nickel mines of Thompson. Witnessing the destruction wrought by mining he changed course and moved to Toronto to attend teacher’s college, spending the next three-and-a-half decades there as a high school math teacher. A patient teacher, John awakened interest in algebra and calculus in many students by encouraging them to put on their math glasses and see the magic of numbers. He was also active in the teachers’ union, OSSTF, as a negotiator at a pivotal time in the union.
He was a loving father to Jonathon, Joel, and Pamela, his children from his first marriage. He taught them to split wood, ride horses, and march for peace and justice. He travelled across North America with them; camping on the north shore of Lake Superior on the way to visit family in Manitoba was a favourite journey. In 1991, he married the love of his life, Vicki Sharp, an artist, at the Lake Muskoka home they designed together. John was remarkable at building homes and friendships. After retiring from teaching, he and Vicki opened a gallery and built two more homes, one in Bucerias, Mexico and another in Prince Edward County, where he also volunteered at the Picton Ten Thousand Villages store. He made new friends at every stop. Above all, he was a giver and a helper. Without hesitation, John was the first to step up and offer help when needed.
John also loved babies. He was the proud Opa of seven grandchildren who loved him back: Magdalene, Isabel, and Georgia Klassen-Marshall; Rowan and Louisa Klassen; and Lila and Oscar Klassen. In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, he is survived by six siblings: Ella Neufeld (late Jake), Rosalinda Wiebe (late Elmer), Jake Klassen (Mary), Hildegarde Peters (Henry), Mathilda Cassidy (late Tom), and Menno Klassen (Mary); his children’s partners, John (Pamela), Haven (Joel), and Gozel (Jonathon); and his beloved sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Henrietta and brother William (both in childhood), sister Dora (late John), and brothers David and Edward (late Mildred).
The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care John received from the Prince Edward Family Health Team. The nurse practitioners, VON nurses, and doctors were so caring in helping John during this difficult time.
In recognition of John’s commitment to the ideals of peace and justice, donations may be made in his memory to the relief fund of the Mennonite Central Committee at donate.mcccanada.ca/cause/relief. Cremation has taken place and the family is grieving privately at this time. A celebration of John’s life will take place in the spring of 2022 when we can gather in person.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Klassen Saturday October 30th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Belleville, Province: Ontario