Olin Claassen

Olin Claassen began life on January 6, 1933, in Newton, Kansas. He joined older sister Carolyn as the oldest son of Paul and Helen (Regier) Claassen. Later, a younger brother Rodney would complete the family. Olin spent his childhood on the family farm in rural Whitewater, working with his father Paul and developing an early passion for his life’s work in agriculture.

Olin’s education began in the one-room Plum Grove School, where he, his sister and cousins together learned to speak English and master the three R’s. However, Olin’s favorite aspect of his education was riding horse to and from school every day with his cousin Milton. With an abundance of aunts and uncles who lived nearby, if the two boys got up to any mischief on their treks home after school, it was never long before their parents learned of it and consequences were meted out.

Olin’s childhood would have been considered idyllic if difficult times had not found his family. When Olin was very young, his brother Rodney passed away after a brief illness. Then just a few years later, when he was ten years old, he lost his mother Helen to cancer. Despite his loss, Olin maintained a tenacious personality and sense of humor, well-honed by his father Paul.

Olin attended high school at Berean Academy in Elbing, graduating in 1951. His life changed his junior year when a new girl from Burrton transferred to Berean. That new girl was Carol Penner who would become his wife of 69 years.

After attending Bethel College for one year, Olin entered 1-W Service working as a hospital orderly at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. He and Carol married on April 9, 1955, after she finished her Nurse’s Training. Together they lived with Olin’s 1-W roommates for one more year before they were able to move back to the family farm.

Olin took part as an active member of the Potwin/Whitewater community. He was a charter member of the North Butler 4-H Club where he developed practical life skills, writing in his record book his final year, “As 4-H clubs go, so goes the agricultural economy of our nation.” Once he aged out of 4-H, Olin served as a community leader for many years as well as on the Butler County Fair Board. In addition to being active in 4-H programming, Olin served in various other local and statewide roles, including Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Trustee, Kansas Farm Management Association Board, clerk of Plum Grove Township, and the Wheat State Manor Board. One of the highlights for the Olin and Carol Claassen family was being named the American Royal Kansas Farm Family of the Year in 1973. 

With three sons in the family, Olin was never short of help on the farm; but when the oldest two left home for college, Olin and Carol hosted four Mennonite Central Committee agricultural exchange trainees from Poland over the span of four years. In 1996, they also hosted a high school foreign exchange student from Russia, Vladimir Yevseyenkov, who became a permanent member of the Claassen family. By opening their hearts and home, Olin and Carol experienced such unexpected blessings and deep appreciation for other cultures. The relationships with these families have sustained to the present day.

Later in life, Olin and Carol traveled together, taking several trips to Europe to reconnect with their former MCC trainees in Poland and Vladimir’s family in Russia. Olin, who always valued history, also enjoyed visits to the farms where his grandparents were born in Poland and Switzerland.

Olin’s faith in his Savior was the guiding light of his life. Devotions and prayer began each one of his days. Preparing for Sunday school lessons was of the utmost importance to him, teaching Sunday school to countless souls from ages 10 to 100 over the span of his lifetime. Olin also served as a Trustee and Church Chairman.

Olin is survived by his wife, Carol Claassen of Whitewater; children Doug (Katherine) Claassen of Whitewater, Greg (Elizabeth) Claassen of Whitewater, Kim (Debbie) Claassen of Whitewater and Kristine (Carl) Goossen of Potwin; grandchildren Brittany (Jared) Burns, Courtney (Adrian) Nethercot, Cody Claassen, Cole (Jennifer) Claassen, Andrew Claassen, Emilee (Joel) Stucky, Abigail (Drew) Rooks, Camille Claassen, Samantha (Todd) Graber, Grant (Paige) Claassen, Lucas (Shayla) Goossen, Paul (Anna) Goossen, and Renata Goossen; great grandchildren Colton, Beckham, Judah, Eloise, Taya, Paige, Morgan, Jordy, and Andi, bonus son Vladimir Yevseyenkov, and many nieces and nephews. Olin went to be with his Lord at the age of 91 on Thursday, October 24, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Anna Regier Claassen, sister Carolyn Busenitz and brother Rodney Claassen. His family will gather with friends on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater. He will be laid to rest in the Old Emmaus Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday October 31, 2024. Olin’s funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the Mennonite Central Committee and Wheat State Manor. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Olin at www.yazelmeglifh.com.