Edith Frances (Claassen) Loewen

Edith Frances Claassen Loewen

Edith Frances Claassen Loewen, 95, died Saturday (Nov. 1, 2008) at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. She was born on Aug. 18, 1913, in Newton to John C. and Mary Ensz Claassen, the youngest of four children. For a time, the family lived on a farm east of Elbing, where Edith started attending public school. Later, having moved back to Newton, she was baptized at First Mennonite Church on May 19, 1929, where she was a regular attender. After graduating from Newton High School, Edith attended Bethel College in North Newton. Her family lived two blocks from the Administration Building, and she walked to the college every day for four years until she graduated in 1936 with majors in mathematics and French.

After teaching a year in public school, she worked for Menno Travel Service, then began administrative office work, which became her lifelong career.

Edith volunteered in this type of work with Mennonite Central Committee at its head office in Akron, Pa. There, she met Henry R. Loewen from Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, who also was volunteering with MCC. They were married on Oct. 6, 1950, at First Mennonite Church in Newton.

They continued MCC work in Basel, Switzerland, from 1950 to 1952, Edith as an administrative assistant to MCC leaders.

When they returned to Kansas, they resided first in Buhier and then in Wichita, where she volunteered at the Wichita Public Library. They moved to Hesston, where they raised their family - a daughter, Jan, and a son, Craig.

After her husband's death in 1984, Edith continued to work for MCC for two summers in Montreat, N.C., where she clerked in a Self Help shop. Following her return to Kansas and until her illness in the spring of 2008, she volunteered her services in Newton at the MCC Center for 27 years, Et Cetera Shop, Ten Thousand Villages store (formerly Self Help), Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, since these were organized in Harvey County, and weekly at Shalom Mennonite Church, where she was a member. She had been honored as RSVP Volunteer of the Year.

Surviving are her daughter, Jan Landis (Mike) of Goshen, Ind.; son, Craig of Tulsa, Okla.; grandchildren, Deana Landis-Smith (Robert) of Boston, Cara Landis Jeeves (Andrew) of Goshen, Ind., Ryan Landis of Indianapolis, KJ Landis of Goshen, Jory Loewen (Keliza) of Hutchinson and Caleb Loewen of Wichita; two great-grandchildren, Riley and Tyler Loewen of Hutchinson; a sister, Dorothy Stucky of Moundridge; two sisters-in-law, Marie Claassen of North Newton and Dorothy Claassen of North Carolina; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Eric Claassen and Harold Claassen; and a granddaughter, Jara R. Loewen.

Edith chose to donate her remains to medical research at The University of Kansas Medical Center and requested the memorial service be an informal time of sharing and fellowship at Shalom Mennonite Church, 800 E. First St. in Newton. It will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 22, with Pastor Eric Massanari in charge.

Memorials may be directed to Mennonite Central Committee in care of Miller Funeral Home, Hesston, KS 67062.