KLAASSEN, Elma Frances (Kruse) 1906 - 2001

KRUSE, KLAASSEN, VOSS

Posted By: K. Kittleson (email)
Date: 8/1/2007 at 16:31:48

Elma Frances Klaassen was born north of Little Rock, Iowa, to Tom and Nannie (Voss) Kruse, on Sept. 10, 1906. Elma was raised on the family farm southeast of Little Rock and attended country school. She was married to Fred E. Klaassen on Feb. 12, 1931 at her parent's home in Little Rock. Elma and Fred settled on their farm 2 1/2 miles east of Little Rock where they raised their family of seven children.

Elma was a life-long member of Salem Reformed Church of Little Rock, where she participated in Willing Workers and Reformed Church Women's Ministries. She was a charter member of the Buss-Johnson American Legion Auxilliary, and also served as president of the group.

Elma was a very active person in her lifetime. She was fond of the tour of both Germany and Holland which she had taken, and after retiring she helped regularly at dinner date and made a special effort to visit those she knew in nursing homes.

Elma continued to live on the farm after Fred's death on Jan. 16, 1958, and moved to her home in Little Rock in 1968. The last few years she lived on her own where made possible from the loving care and concern of her good neighbor, Grave Veen. In November of 1998 it was decided that Elma needed special care, and she became a resident of Country View Manor in Sibley. This last Saturday night, January 13, 2001, she died peacefully in her room at the age of 94.

Surviving are her two daughters, Donna Alberts of Sanborn and Crystal (Dennis) Clark of Little Rock; and five sons: Burdell (Bernita) Klaassen of Little Rock; Norman (Sheila) Klaassen of Sibley; Robert (Melvina) Klaassen of Sibley; Larry Klaassen of Villa Hills, KY; and Garry Klaassen of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by her two sisters, Mary Schultz of Sibley; Tille Van Anken of Little Rock; by two brothers, John T. (Mary) Kruse of Little Rock and Leslie (Marvelyn) Kruse of Sioux City; a sister-in-law, Martha M. Kruse of Sibley, and brother-in-law, Herman Buss of Sibley.

Elma was preceded in death by her husband, Fred E. Klaassen, fouor sisters, Katherine Heronemus, Carrie Ackerman, Margaret Kruse and Ida Kruse; by two brothers, Harvey and Albert Kruse, and an infant brother.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery, Little Rock.

Submitted by Sherrilyn Klaassen