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Featured Article: "Klassen, Dietrich J. (1901-1986) (Read full article) Agatha and Dietrich J. Klassen, 1950. Photo: Courtesy of Hilda and Colin Wooles. Dietrich J. Klassen: churchman, preacher and farmer; born 18 November 1901 in Osterwick, Chortitza Colony, Russia to Johann and Anna (Elias) Klassen. His mother died five days after he was born, leaving 6 children. His father then married Ida Dyck (1868-1914), a marriage that resulted in another 4 half-siblings for Dietrich, followed by a third marriage to Maria Schellenberg (1875-1965) which produced one more half-brother. Dietrich married Agatha Dyck (1902-1972) in 1925. They had six children together that survived to adulthood. After Agatha died, Dietrich married widow Maria Willms (nee Wiebe) (1906-1986). Dietrich died 2 November 1986 in Kitchener, Ontario. Dietrich Klassen accept the Lord and was baptized on 22 May 1921 in the Allianz Church in Rosenthal. In the fall of 1922, he was drafted into the Red Army for two years. It was at this time that he first read through the whole Bible and preached his first sermon to comrades in the army. After his return to civilian life in 1924 he was often called upon to preach the Word. He also attended some Bible courses and deeper life seminars led by prominent Mennonite leaders. In November 1929 Dietrich Klassen family fled to Moscow and emigrated to Canada in February 1930. They lived in Kitchener, then Hespeler, moving to Vineland in 1934 and to Virgil in 1937, all in Ontario. From 1937 to 1945 they developed a fruit farm on Line 1, a mile east of Virgil, and then purchased a larger farm on Creek Road, on the other side of Virgil on the way toward St. Davids.

Our Mission The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online provides reliable, freely-available English-language information on Anabaptist-related congregations, denominations, conferences, institutions and significant individuals, as well as historical and theological topics. Secular subject articles from an Anabaptist perspective and full-text source documents are also included. See our About page to learn more about GAMEO's history, management and vision. Corrections and Suggestions Article corrections or suggestions for new content should be emailed to admin@gameo.org. As a volunteer organization we are unable to respond to questions on Mennonite history or genealogical questions of any kind. For questions of that type, please contact a local genealogical society, or check with a Mennonite historical library or archives. US $ Cdn $ Donate We welcome donations to GAMEO via Mennonite World Conference, in either USD or CAD. Enter the amount in the box labeled “Other” and write GAMEO in the “Designate by Donation” field. Your support helps to sustain GAMEO’s mission–thank you! Other Mennonite Encyclopedias GAMEO works together with the editors of other Mennonite encyclopedias to make their content available in the English language. These encyclopedias include: Lexikon der Mennoniten in Paraguay Mennonitisches Lexikon (MennLex) GAMEO falls under the umbrella of the Mennonite World Conference Faith and Life Commission. Members of the Management Board include: Mennonite Historical Society of Canada, Mennonite Church USA Archives, Mennonite Brethren Historical Commission, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite World Conference, Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism, and the D. F. Plett Historical Research Foundation.