LaVerna Mae Classen

LaVerna Mae (Friesen) Classen, 86, of Denver, CO, was called home to her Lord on January 26, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. A Dust Bowl girl, LaVerna was born to Marie and Martin Friesen on September 5, 1930, in rural Meade County, Kansas. LaVerna was the third generation of her family to be born in America, after her great-grandparents immigrated to Nebraska from Ukraine in the 1870s. German was her first language, spoken at home and in their Mennonite church, but at the start of WWII, she and her five siblings – Wilmer, Erma, JoAnn, Robert, and Roberta – were instructed to speak only English in public. The Friesen farmhouse was equipped with commercial electricity in 1946, and two years later, LaVerna graduated from Meade Bible Academy, a member of the first class to graduate from the private school. Following high school, she continued to work on the family farm and in neighboring homes doing housework and babysitting. She met her husband, Isaac Classen, Jr., while Christmas caroling, and they were married on August 29, 1952. They honeymooned by car down Route 66 to California, but made their home in Denver when Isaac was drafted into the Korean War. A conscientious objector, he participated in alternative service by working at St. Luke's Hospital in Denver. LaVerna worked in the hospital coffee shop and as an orderly until their first child, Galen, was born, followed by LuAnn, Ken, and Gail.

LaVerna was an excellent homemaker, and a great collector of china, tea cups, bells, dolls, and angels. She loved a good picnic on a summer day, particularly listening to band music in the park, and was extremely fond of reading her Bible and sharing her favorite books, such as Anne of Green Gables, with her friends. More than anything, she loved her family, and was happiest when all were gathered together.

LaVerna is preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Marie Friesen, and her brother Wilmer Friesen. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Isaac Classen, Jr.; her four children, Galen Classen and his wife, Carol; LuAnn (Classen) Weinacht and her husband, Brian; Ken Classen; Gail (Classen) Loeffler and her husband, Mark; her five grandchildren, Vaughn Weinacht and his wife, Bethany; Kiera Classen; Lily Weinacht; BriAnna Loeffler and Rudy Loeffler; and her siblings, Erma (Friesen) Isaac, JoAnn (Friesen) Hamm , Robert Friesen, and Roberta (Friesen) Isaac.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in LaVerna's honor to The Gideons International (https://www2.gideons.org/) or Samaritan's Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org).