Dawn Marie Classen

The world was blessed with the birth of Dawn Classen on September 5, 1974, in the town of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, being the very first born to parents Vance Classen and Sandra Miles. When Dawn was 3 years old, she welcomed her newborn sister, Tanya. And when she was 5 years old, she again welcomed the youngest sister of the family, Nicole. Nicole was probably a bigger blessing to her than she realized at the time. Dawn despised playing games, such as barbies, and having Nicole around kept Tanya busy and out of her hair. As a very young girl, Dawn enjoyed playing with her dog, Cree, getting into trouble with her best friend, Ryan, and sneaking sips out of her parent’s and their friends’ drinks until they found her “sleeping.” Listening to her speak of the younger times, one of her favorite memories was running over big John (Ryan’s dad) with the quad.

Being the eldest child, Dawn received luxuries, which were usually given by the parents on the condition that she made sure her younger siblings were asleep first (this was sometimes accomplished by Dawn reading them a made-up fairy tale story to any picture magazine she could find…including the inappropriate ones found in the parents’ room). These luxuries consisted of getting to stay up late or being able to head out in the very early morning and go fishing and hunting with her dad. As she grew, she would tire of her siblings following after her, and would often try to sneak away. One of those days, Dawn and her friends were running away from her little sister Tanya. They stumbled upon a beehive nest that had hit the ground and turned around to run back home. Instead of warning her little sister, they let her run right into the beehive nest and watched, chuckling as a swarm repeatedly stung her. It may have taken a few years, but eventually Dawn realized there was no point trying to escape anymore, she was stuck with them for life and just embraced it. One time even, in the middle of the night, after a phone call from her drunkard sisters, she drove an hour and half from her home just to pick them up and drive them to their home (which was only a 10-minute walk from where they were), just to have to drive another hour and half back home to get ready for work. This was Dawn.

Dawn learned very early on, the value of working to earn the things you want. She led the charge in picking bottles in order to earn half the money needed so her and her siblings could buy a swing set. She also worked delivering papers, in the early hours, towing her sisters in a wagon behind her. This work ethic followed her into her adult years. In 1994, Dawn moved to Red Deer to enrol in and complete hairdressing school. Between 1998 and 2007, Dawn worked as a Front Office Manager for Lac La Biche Co-op, and from 2007-2008 she worked as an office administrator for Guys Welding. In 2008, Dawn and her children relocated to Redwater, where she became a member of Local Union 92, working as a labourer and backup foreman for the next 4 years, working at Shell Scotford, Petro Canada and Suncor. From 2012 on, Dawn worked for Kichton Contracting, where she worked as a labourer/operator, and most recent position as Site Safety Advisor, working on projects for NWR, Rogers Place, Ice District Parkade Phase 1 & 2, and Kinder Morgan Terminal. Although seeing some of the pictures and videos of the shenanigans that went down with family, we often joked that one would be surprised to know a Safety Officer was amongst them all. To no fault of her own, as I am sure handling her husband, children and some family were not an easy task. And in regard to one sister specifically, she often remarked that they needed to start wearing bubble wrap when they were together. All joking aside, most times, while working, she was also taking courses to learn and better herself in her positions. She truly is one of the hardest working woman I have ever known, never being afraid or shy to try something new, and if she was, it did not show. She also tried to pass these lessons on to her children, nieces, and nephews. If she could, she was always willing to help if they needed, while at the same time, finding a way to make them earn it.

In 1986, Dawn moved to Lac La Biche. Immediately she made so many friends, and became very popular, being the “in” crowd. When Dawn made friends, they were not just friends, they were family to her. This popularity of Dawn’s was a blessing to the younger siblings, for if anyone were to try to bully her sisters, Dawn and her friends would be right there to give warning of what would happen if they ever bothered Tanya or Nicole again. And in one specific instance, Dawn and her friends took Nicole home and spent hours with her teaching her to fight “their way” and then let her loose on the bully, as they cheered her on in the fight. This period of her life, she really enjoyed line-dancing, but she will most fondly be remembered by her siblings for her remarkable ability to breakdance to MC Hammer, in her favorite parachute pants.

As a teenager, Dawn went through a rebellious period, full of feisty attitude, which led her to move away from home. With this, came an amazing blessing. In 1991, Dawn become a mother for the first time, giving birth to her son Trent. To have watched her evolve into motherhood from being a child herself, was quite a beautiful transformation for anyone to see and had us all extremely proud of her. Dawn and Trent moved to Colinton/Athabasca, where with the support of her family, Dawn was able to return to school and complete her Grade 12 education, an attestation to her never give-up or quit attitude. In 1999, Dawn was blessed to give birth to her second son, Joshua and in 2005, Dawn gave birth to her first and only beautiful daughter, Hailey. For many years, often playing the role of two parents, she did it in a way that made it look easy, and never let on how many sacrifices she had to make. With all three children being raised in different times (each 6-7 years apart), with each their own different personalities that came with different trials and triumphs, she embraced it and navigated to the best of her ability. Dawn laid a very solid foundation of love, support, and strength, which allowed her children to grow and flourish in their own independent ways. As a mother, she made sure her children knew they could always count on her, from bandaging their boo-boos when they fell, wiping away their tears after heartbreaks, opening her arms when a hug was needed, attending every sports game/practice while cheering them on hard from the sidelines, sharing in much laughter through many joyful times or silly mistakes, answering many late-night phone calls just so they could hear her voice and needed to talk or get some advice and always celebrating their little successes, their small milestones and their big achievements with the same prideful smile and happy spirit. Dawn is an amazing mother and genuinely enjoyed the one-on-one time with each of her children individually, just as much as she enjoyed the family time altogether. As said by JK Rowling, ‘Love as powerful as your mother’s leaves its own mark. To have been loved so deeply will give us some protection forever.’

In 2008, Dawn had met the love of her life, Marshall. While on a night out on the town with her sister, Dawn was introduced to Marshall. They began bumping into each other in the mornings while both on their way to work, and love took it from there. In 2010, together they purchased their home and began creating the best of memories for themselves and the children. Enjoying many days/nights of working around the yard, attending auctions, relaxing in the hot tub, hosting holiday dinners and family celebrations (and if it involved a birthday, you best bet you were getting a cake to the face), exploring on the side-by-sides, sitting around the fire, listening to a variety of music, having a few beers/vodkas, usually followed with a couple of Jägermeister shots, and MANY, MANY, MANY back-road drives. Together, they also both learned the love of vacationing in Mexico. One special vacation to Mexico, not so long ago, they were able to take all the children and make some great memories, where Dawn also got to fulfill one of her dreams, to swim with the dolphins. Dawn was not a “buy-me” flowers kind of lady but received many Tiger Lily pics from Marshall to show he was thinking of her. They complimented each other so well, and because of each other, led much more purposeful and happier lives. For the last 10 years and some, Dawn was truly living her best life, with the most smiles and laughter we had ever seen from her.

Dawn had a love for the mountains, that I would love to say she passed on to her children, but in reality, it is just in the family genes and none of us can escape it. She was so ecstatic when at separate times, both of her sons had planned a mother-son mountain/hiking trip to spend time individually with her. Looking at all the pictures she came back with, some very special memories were made. She loved nature and being outdoors, and was often found grabbing a couple drinks, and hopping in the side-by-side and taking her dogs (and if around, her grand-dogs as she called them) for a run in the fields or a swim in the water. She loved the outside so much, that sometimes she would get the notion to spend the night sleeping outside on the trampoline, and almost like she forgot she lived in Alberta, would wake up to a shitload of unpleasant mosquito bites.

Early on, she had a love for dolphins and the collection began, starting with a first ornament given to her by her son, Trent. This changed over time to a love of bears, and a new collection of anything bears began (which many happily supplied her with, especially Marshall), and the nickname “Mama Bear” was given to her. She also had a beautiful tattoo picked out, of a mama bear holding her three bear cubs, with the plan to add bear paw prints for each grandchild that would come in the future. And the future was coming sooner than she realized, when she was told by both her sons that in 2022, she was finally going to be a grandma times two. This news brought her the most joyous tears, and she was overly excited for the future and her new title.

Dawn was so full of life, and if possible, was always up for a spur-of-the-moment road trip. She had a quick defensive reaction, and if you spooked her, you better be ready to duck from the flying fist. Her favorite foods were hot wings and Caesar salad (which in her younger days, she swore cured a hangover), as well as a good steak (but be prepared for the wrath if you told her there was no HP sauce). Her favorite drinks were tea, fruit smoothies, vodka, and shots of Jägermeister.

There are so many more stories and memories that could be told, and so many more words that could be spoken to describe Dawn, but above all, one of her strongest qualities was her eternal love for her family and her preparedness to weather the storm with anyone of them who needed. Her feisty attitude, beautiful smile, infectious laugh, and genuine love are only a few of the things that are going to be greatly missed by so many forever.

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It is with profound sadness and much love that we mourn the passing of Dawn Classen, of Radway, on March 02, 2022, at the age of 47.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 14 years, Marshall Michaluk; her children: Trent (Kimberley), Joshua (Liberty), and Hailey; grandsons: Henry and Rowan; mother: Sandra (Tom), father: Vance (Shelley) and mother-in-law: Shirley; sisters: Tanya (Bob), Nicole (Simba), Wendy, Tammy (Stuart), Trisha (Chris); brother: Timothy, brother-in-law: Marvin (Braelynn), Nana: Glenys, as well as numerous relatives and friends.

Dawn was predeceased by her great-grandmother Geraldine (Baba), grandmothers Ethel and Jean, father-in-law Emil, uncles Phillip, Rod and Danny, and aunt Rosemary.

Dawn’s life would seem too short to many, but those of us who were blessed to be touched by her understand that her existence and the imprint she left on our hearts exceed the quantity of time that she stayed here. Our hearts are so broken by this unexpected loss and Dawn will be desperately missed by all those that she’s left behind. She was one of a kind and to be loved by her was to be truly blessed. Her infectious smile and laugh will live on forever.

A Celebration of Life for Dawn will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022 @ 1:00 pm at the Radway Agri-Centre.

Memorial Donations may be made in Dawn Classen’s name to Shelter Safe (www.Sheltersafe.ca/donate/)