Herman Klassen

After a long illness, Herman P. Klassen passed away on March 28, 2008 at Sunset Villa Care Center, two days before his 89th birthday. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a memorial service scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory, 2609 S. Main St., Roswell, NM. The Reverends Robert Holcomb of the First Baptist Church and Elton Dilbeck of the Church of Christ will conduct the services. Born in The Ukraine to Peter and Katherina Klassen on March 30, 1919, he immigrated to Canada with his parents and twin brother at the age of four. The family settled in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, where Herman received his education. In 1942, the family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.), where Herman worked in the retail trade and continued his education in University studies. In 1945, he married the love of his life, Hulda Wiens. In May of this year, they would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. The Klassens moved to Roswell in 1959, where Herman worked as Right of Way and Land Supervisor for Transwestern Pipeline Company for 25 years, retiring in 1984. Herman attended Bible Study at the First Baptist Church (FBC) of Roswell. He had a passion for memorizing poems and enjoyed reciting them at FBC Christmas Parties. Herman loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with all his heart, and his family and friends are comforted in knowing that he is now at peace and in the presence of Christ. Herman was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. His family will remember him as a gentle man and a gentleman. He is survived by his beloved wife, Hulda, two daughters, Darlene Klassen (Dave Biringer) and Diane Klassen of Roswell, and a son, Robert, daughter-in-law, Leigh Ann, and two grandchildren, Abbie and Jacob Klassen of Coppell, TX. In addition, Herman is survived by sisters-in-law, Kay Hepting, of Phoenix, AZ, Erna Klassen, of Langley, B.C., Hester Wiens of Victoria, B.C., Elly Witt of Vancouver, B.C., and brother-in-law, David Sawatzky of Abbotsford, B.C., as well as two special cousins, Brian Wilson (Barb) of Tacoma, WA, and Reck Niebuhr (Judi) of Vero Beach, FL, numerous nephews, nieces, other cousins, and many friends. Herman was preceded in death by his father and mother, his twin brother, Henry, who passed away at the age of 36 years, and his sister, Dorothy Sawatzky. Herman was cremated, according to his wishes. His cremains will be interred in the family plot at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The family wishes to thank Dr. Robert Rader, Dr. Shehzad Jinnah, and the staffs of VistaCare Hospice, Sunset Villa Care Center, and the nurses of the Telemetry Unit of Eastern New Mexico Medical Center for the compassionate care afforded to Herman in his final days. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the VistaCare Hospice Foundation, 400 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 500, Roswell, NM 88201 or online at https://www.applyweb.com/public/contribute?vcf or to The Gideons, Post Office Box 777, Roswell, NM 88202-0777 or online at http://www.gideons.org. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory.

Herman Klassen

March 30, 1919 - March 28, 2008