Klaas Kroeker

Klaas Kroeker, the son of Bernard and Katharena (Friesen) Kroeker was born on April 11, 1916, at Jansen, NE. He was raised in Jansen until leaving to attend Moody Bible Institute in 1940, and then to St. Paul Bible Institute (now Crown College), where he graduated in 1943. On June 12, 1941, Nick was united in marriage to Esther Friesen at the Carson Mennonite Brethren Church near Delft, MN. He served his first Pastorate at Stickney South Dakota from 1943-1945. In 1946, they left for French West Africa (now Mali) as missionaries. They planted churches, opened mission stations and learned languages. In March 1985 they retired to Mountain Lake, MN, where he continued to service his Lord until the end of his earthly life. In Mountain Lake he served with the Lao Christian Fellowship, Awana, Parkwood, Eventide Nursing Home, Good Samaritan Village and the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. They were members of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Meade, KS, and were currently attending the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Mountain Lake. Nick enjoyed woodworking and fixing old clocks. Nick died on Sunday afternoon, March 18, 2007 at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato, MN. Nick is survived by his wife Esther of Mountain Lake; two daughters, Sharon Hauber and husband Clinton of Camp Bell, NY, and Mary Classen and husband Gary of Mountain Lake; seven grandchildren, Timothy Hauber, Esther Hauber, Bart (Randi) Hauber, Wanda Classen, Ken (Jacci) Classen, Gwen (Gary) Martinez, and Laurel (Christian) Schemmel; three great grandchildren, Abigail Hauber, Elisha Hauber and Keegan Classen; many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Donnie in 1949, and Kenny in 1957; five brothers, Bernard, John, Henry, Peter and one in infancy; and four sisters, Aganetha, Katharine and two in infancy.