John George Klassen

John George Klassen was born on October 4, 1936, to John George and Sara Klassen nee Vogt in Steinbach, Manitoba. He died on December 18, 2025, at Third Crossing Manor at age 89. John leaves to mourn his wife, Kathy; children Andrea (Moe), John David, Vern (Chelsea), and Nadine; grandchildren, Christopher Klassen, Patric, Elijah, Seth, Andrew, and Caitlynn Klassen, Danielle, Jack, Wesley, and Lacey Blair, two sisters Margaret (Fred) Bryans and Elfriede Johnson. He was predeceased by his parents John and Sarah Klassen; Sister Hilda Vandenbyllaardt; and bother in laws Dirk Vandenbyllaardt and Ken Johnson. When John finished school, he worked for Parkhill Bedding before starting his career of long-distance trucking. He married Kathy in 1974, and they would have celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary this month. After moving to an acreage near Gladstone Manitoba in April of 1980, he worked various jobs while beekeeping, growing strawberries and raising roasting chickens. He enjoyed working on the acreage clearing snow and building snow slides for the children. John was baptized on his faith in 1991. He embraced his love of music by singing in the Gladstone Christian Fellowship and MacGregor & District choirs and by playing his accordion. Throughout the years his love of sports shone through as he refereed hockey, curled, played baseball and golf. He had many hobbies, including piloting airplanes while his health allowed, building elaborate model railroad sets, and completing puzzles. His love of board games was shared with his grandchildren creating many memorable and competitive moments.