Obituary of Aaron Klassen

Died suddenly but peacefully at Grand River Hospital on Monday, April 18, 2011. Aaron will be sadly missed by his wife Helen (nee Heinrichs), son Robert Victor, daughter-in-law Sue, daughter Sherri, son-in-law David Brulé and grandchildren Nathan and Sylvia Klassen, and Emma and Bridget Klassen-Brulé. He will also be missed by his siblings and their spouses: Marie Dyck, Erdman Klassen (and Anne), William Klassen (and Dona Harvey), Elsa Neufeld (and Vern), Katherine Martens (and Gert), Ernst Klassen, Susanna Klassen, Charles Klassen (and Margaret), John Klassen (and Alice), Stanley Klassen (and Lona), and Victor Klassen (and Anna). He will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews, and by his brothers-in-law Victor Heinrichs (and Rosemarie), Vern Heinrichs (and Elfrieda) and their children Svinda, Karen, Anne and John. Aaron was born in Halbstadt, Manitoba. He was predeceased by his parents, David and Susan Klassen, by two sisters Anna and Henrietta, his brother Paul and three brothers-in-law, Martin Hiebert, Jake Driedger and Jim Dyck, and also by his nephews Steven Hiebert, Dennis Hiebert, Marcus Heinrichs and niece Ceci Heinrichs. Aaron's passions lay in a love of education and the Church. He has been an active member of Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church for over forty years. He has also served the Mennonite Church through work with and support for Mennonite Central Committee, The Canadian Mennonite, Mennonite Economic Development Agency, and Conrad Grebel College. His work life has taken many twists and turns; since moving to Kitchener in 1966, he managed Provident Bookstore for a number of years, then operated a group home for boys. Most recently, he worked for many years as a realtor in the Kitchener area. Friends are invited to share their memories of Aaron with his family during visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and Friday from 2-4 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, 57 Stirling Ave. N., Kitchener on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Kevin Peters Unrau officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Condolences for the family and donations to the Mennonite Central Committee or the Mennonite Economic Development Association may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.