Obituary of Lillian Klaassen

April 15, 1940 – July 12, 2014 Lillian was born to Diedrich and Katherine Epp on April 15, 1940. Her education took place at Hoffnungsort School and RJC. Her childhood was spent on the family farm where she acquired her love of farming. She was baptized upon confession of her faith by Reverend G.G. Epp in July of 1957 and became a member of the Eigenheim Mennonite Church at that time, a membership she held until she died. On December 13, 1958 she married Benno Klaassen. Four children were born to the marriage; Carolyn and Karen Lynn in 1959, Kenneth Lorne in 1961 and Allen Neil in 1963. The girls were twins and an accident just before birth resulted in the death of Carolyn and a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy in the survivor, Karen. Mom loved the farm and preferred being out in the barn or on the field to housekeeping and gardening. The dairy herd was sold in 1979 and they moved to Rosthern in 1982. Mom served as Administrator for Valley Action Industries from 1981-1996 and worked for Bigway Foods for 12 years (1998-2010), retiring at the age of 70. Mom loved planes, ships and travel and visited many locations in North America and the Caribbean; New York City became her favourite. Mom loved people and enthusiastically participated in the lives of all she knew, particularly those of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mom was predeceased by brother George (1928), brother Menno (1938), sister Lena (1939), a brother in 1942, her mother Katherine Epp and a sister in 1946, daughter Carolyn (1959), father-in-law Martin Klaassen (1965), mother-in-law Lisette (Jantzen) Klaassen (1982), father Diedrich Epp (1993), husband Benno (1996), brother Clarence (2001), brother-in-law Edgar Klassen (2003), sister Velma (2007), sister-in-law Pauline (2009), brothers Art and Alvin (2011), daughter Karen and sister-in-law Bonnie (2012), and brother-in-law Reg (2014). Left to mourn her passing are: son Ken (Marla), grandchildren Michael and Kaylynn, great-grandchildren Ethan, Colton, Hannah and Katherine, son Allen, sisters Elinor and Elsie, brothers Richard (Margaret), John, Ed (Ruth), brother-in-law Herman Klassen, sisters-in-law Magdalene, Louise, Helen Epp and Helen Klassen, many nieces and nephews and friends and relatives too numerous to mention. She will be missed by all of us. The manner in which she touched all our lives will not be forgotten. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mom’s name to a Charity of your choosing as Our Mother loved to support many causes. The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at Eigenheim Mennonite Church, west of Rosthern. Interment will take place in Eigenheim Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern (306-232-5245, http://www.funksfuneralhome.ca).