Esther Louise Klaassen

Esther Louise Cole was born on September 4, 1937 to Theodore Dennis Cole and Daisy Viola (Keller) Cole at her parent’s farm outside of Arlington, Kansas. When she was 14 days old, her mother passed away. She was raised separately from her siblings, Edith Viola Cole and Robert Leroy Cole, by her grandparents Oscar E. & Frances E. Keller, her mother’s parents. It had been said that she was given to them to replace their daughter.

Esther moved a lot in her childhood. From the family farm near Lerado, KS, to Sunny Slope, AZ, Tuscan, AZ, Kingman, KS, Truth or Consequences, NM, then back to Kingman, KS. She graduated from Kingman High School in 1955. She attended Phillips University in Enid, OK for one year, then 3 years at Mercy School of Nursing in Fort Scott, KS. She graduated with her RN degree on August 1, 1959.

After nursing school her roommate, Carolyn, set her up with her boyfriend’s roommate, Marvin Max Klaassen. Esther and Max were married May 1, 1960 at Kingman Christian Church. They rented an apartment, then a small house near downtown Wichita and attended Zion Lutheran Church. In 1963, they purchased their only home (of 59 years) and moved to the west side of town with their two sons, Bruce Neal, born in 1961 and Brian Ray, born in 1962. Soon after, they added two daughters, Brenda Sue, born in 1965 and Betty Anne, born in 1966. They attended Ascension Lutheran Church, where Esther attended for a total of 63 years.

Before marriage and children, Esther worked at Wesley Hospital. She returned to working in 1968 at Osteopathic Hospital, later named Riverside Hospital, for a total of 24 years. While there she worked in different departments including the Emergency Room, Pediatrics, Cardiac Care, Surgical Floor, Obstetrics and the Nursery. She was also involved in Nursing Education and served as a House Supervisor many times. Later, she worked at the American Red Cross for 11 years. She helped set up a Red Cross donor unit at Boeing. She retired in October 2003.

At the end of January 2006, Max unexpectedly had a heart attack. After 10 days in the hospital, he passed away February 8, 2006.

Esther had many hobbies and interests. She loved to travel! Travels included many camping trips to Colorado with family, the Hot Air Balloon Festival in NM, Niagara Falls, Hawaii, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and various other places. Other hobbies included sewing, scrapbooking, shopping, baking, and various other crafts. Esther also loved collecting pins and brooches, magnets, postcards, lighthouses, Precious Moments, bells, and Vintage Santa Clauses.

Esther was involved in many groups. She was active in Girl Scouts, a Den Mother in Boy Scouts, 20th Century Women’s Club, Lion’s Club, Square-dancing Club with Max, Stephens Ministries, and served as a Parish Nurse. She was most involved in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) in various capacities for over 60 years.

After selling her house, Esther lived at Reflection Ridge Retirement Village for 4 years. In September of 2025, she moved in with her daughter, Brenda. Esther passed away peacefully on June 21, 2026 at her daughter’s home with both of her daughters by her side.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Oscar and Frances Keller; her parents, Theodore and Daisy Cole; her spouse, Max Klaassen; her son, Bruce Klaassen; her sister, Edith (John) Nielson; her brother, Robert (Gerry) Cole and 3 nephews.

Esther is survived by her children: Brian Klaassen of Wichita, Brenda (Russell) Mason of Wichita and Betty Horn of Kechi; her grandchildren: Keli (Ben Sutton) Horn, Kathryn (Ethan) Owens, Amanda Dutcher, Sarah (Ethan) Harvey, Mathew Braden, Christopher Mason; 4 great-grandchildren, 1 niece and 6 nephews.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Ascension Lutheran Church, 842 N Tyler Rd, Wichita, KS 67212. A private graveside has already occurred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 W Hwy 54, Wichita, KS 67219.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Ascension Lutheran Church, 842 N Tyler Rd, Wichita, KS 67212.