John B. Classen

John B Classen was born July 7, 1936 to Abe L. (Agnes Bartel) Classen and died of natural causes in Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Rossville KS on January 1, 2021.

John and his 8 siblings were all born in a farmhouse in Meade County KS. In Apr of 1940, the Classen family pulled up roots and moved to DeRidder LA and returned back to Meade County in the fall of 1941. In 1942-John entered first grade in a small rural school house named Lily Dale in Meade County. After the family re-established in Meade County again, he finished his eighth grade at Sunrise School in Meade County. His father died in 1953 when he was a Junior. This left him with lots of responsibilities. He graduated from Meade Bible Academy in 1954.

John accepted his Savior during revival meetings at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Meade, Kansas. Baptized in 1952 and became a member of the EMB Church at Meade, KS.

In 1957, he was drafted to do his two year alternative service at Menninger in Topeka.

While there he met, Loretta Mae McMurray, and they were married February 8,1958 in the First Church of the Nazarene in Topeka KS.

She died January 8, 2018 in Topeka KS. They were married 45 years.  To this union were born two sons and a daughter, Bryan Lee of Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Darrell Lynn of Topeka and Sharon Kay Renyer of Branson MO.

He is deceased by, his sisters, Martha (Henry) Baerg, Ann Classen, Liesbeth, Esther (Ed) Ratzlaff, and brother-in-law Roy Regier. His only brother, Menno, predeceased him, Nov 21, 2020. Surviving him, are his sisters Alma Regier, Arlene (Junior) Stoesz, Leona (Harold) Buller, two granddaughters Crystal (Cory) French, Casie Post, along with three great-granddaughters, EmmaLynn Strait, BraeLee Post, and Isabella French.

John retired from the United State Postal Service after 43 years of service.  He was recognized for being the longest working mail carrier in the state of Kansas.  He and Loretta were able to do an extensive amount of traveling throughout the U.S. He loved to bowl with Bryan and sit at the train for hours while Bryan would count the cars go by.

John married Ida Rose Johnson, October 23, 2010 in Topeka KS.

At John’s request, his body has been donated to the KU Medical Center for the advancement of science and research.  A burial service will be scheduled at a later date.