Melvin Claassen

Our wonderful husband, dad, grandpa and great-grandpa Melvin Claassen passed into the arms of his loving Heavenly Father on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, MN. We will miss him greatly, but are so thankful he is with his God and Savior whom he loved and served so faithfully. Dad was born September 8, 1928 to Edward and Catherine (Thiessen) Claassen in Whitewater, KS, the youngest of 13 children. He accepted the Lord on his mother's knee at the age of 5 and, upon confession of faith, was baptized at the age of 16 at the Emmaus Mennonite Church in Whitewater, KS. In August of 1952 he married Martha Buhler from Mt. Lake, MN and they began their journey of over 58 years together. They moved to Omaha, NE where Dad attended Grace College of the Bible and graduated in 1956. While there, they felt God leading them into missions in Africa. In preparation, they moved to Ithaca, NY so Dad could attend a special one year course in agriculture at Cornell University. After spending 6 months studying French in Belgium they went to Congo in 1958 where they served as missionaries until 1974. Dad worked with building and mechanics, taught English, worked with the national pastors and did agricultural work with the Africans, teaching them to grow healthy crops and animals. In 1960-61, while on furlough, Dad attended Taylor University for a year. After returning to the States in 1974, Dad and Mom settled in Mt. Lake where Dad worked at Balzer Manufacturing and also served as interim pastor for several churches in the area. In 1986, God led Dad and Mom to Grace University where Dad did grounds and maintenance for 8 years. In 1994, Dad became the pastor for Woodland Community Bible Church near Council Bluffs, IA where they served for 13 years. In 2007, Cornerstone Bible Church in Mt. Lake asked Dad to become an associate pastor where he served until his death. Throughout the years Dad has led numerous Bible studies and influenced many lives. We, his family, are so grateful for his leadership, teaching and example of what it means to be a godly husband and father. He loved God, loved Mom and loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and we are so blessed. Dad is preceded in death by his mother and father and ten of his siblings. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Martha, daughter Evangeline from Papua, Indonesia, son Steve (wife Kathy) from Denver, CO, granddaughter Larissa Haub (husband Michael), great-granddaughter Katelyn from Bakersfield, CA, grandson Evan from Omaha, NE, grandson Brandon from Denver, CO, son James (wife Caryn) grandson Aron (wife Rachael), great-grandson Aiden, granddaughter Brianna, grandson Collin from Sioux Falls, SD, daughter Ruth from Colorado Springs, CO, brother Curt from Berne, IN and brother Daniel (wife Dora) from Whitewater, KS and many loving nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, Melvin's family requests memorials be sent to them and they will forward them to the following organizations: Mission Aviation Fellowship, Cornerstone Bible Church, and Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission