Obituary of Theodore "Ted" John Klassen
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Theodore “Ted” John Klassen on April 20, 2024 at the age of 75 after a short stay in the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre.
Ted was born in 1948 in Brooks, Alberta to his parents John and Agatha Klassen. He grew up on an irrigation farm in Rosemary AB where he learned both the importance and value of hard work. At a very young age he learned how to milk cows by hand, take care of a large flock of laying hens, drive a tractor, and fill every corner of a flat roofed granary during harvest. Ted attended Rosemary School from Grades 1 to 12 where he participated in a variety of sports. During that time, he learned the value of being a team player and putting in his best effort for the benefit of all. He took those core values with him after graduation which also made him a valued employee. Ted attended UofC and graduated with an education degree. After a few weeks of student teaching, he decided he wasn’t actually cut out to be a teacher and never spent a day in the classroom. He worked for United Drywall in Calgary and became an excellent taper. This skill came in handy as he helped family and friends with renovations and even did a couple of new builds. He also worked many years in Optic sales, another career choice at which he did very well. He travelled extensively to see clients and they were always eager to meet with him and catch up.
Throughout his life Ted continued to play and enjoy sports of every kind. Regardless of the sport he tackled he always worked to be the best he could be. He loved to go to the gym and work out to stay physically strong and fit. Ted loved team sports, but he also loved those sports that allowed him to hone his own abilities to the maximum. When Ted met Betty, he found a female version of himself. Betty was just as passionate about being her best as he was. They loved to golf!!! And they loved to curl!!! From spring to fall they were very busy golfing every chance they had and in winter they could be found at a curling rink. On the cold days of winter they also loved to watch curling on TV so they could cheer on their favourite team and give them lots of pointers on what the next shot should be and where to hold the broom.
Ted was a man who kept the first two great commandments. He loved God with all of his heart and demonstrated that love by loving his neighbours. Any time a relative or a neighbour needed help to build a shed or do some renovations, he was always there to lend a hand. He was mostly paid for his work in the satisfaction of seeing a job well done and the gratitude of those he helped. Uncle Ted was the guy who was anxious for you to finish your basement so he could come help. He loved to see projects finished. The word “integrity” also defined Ted. He was a man who kept his word. If he said he would do something or be somewhere, you knew he’d be there as promised. He never looked for excuses to get out of commitments.
He was like the pig who built the brick house, if he said he would be there at 8:00 he was generally there at 7:00 ready to get to work and happy to work. The word “optimistic” was another word that described Ted. When he played cards, he was always very sure he was going to get a good hand and annoyingly he generally did. He was never one to sit and complain about life and how hard it was. When he had trials to face, he went about doing everything he could to rectify the problems. If something broke, he fixed it. If a container was too small, he figured out how to add a few boards on the bottom to make it bigger. He always had the attitude that if something went wrong there must be a way to fix it and he was generally right. That solution also worked well for the first three cancers he encountered– the solution being just to cut it out. However, it’s a little trickier when that beast invades your brain.
Ted was always a people person. Everyone who knew Ted loved him and he loved to have fun! One day his brother-in-law was driving him to a dental appointment in Medicine Hat when they came across an accident which blocked all of the east bound lanes. The traffic was being diverted back down the highway and around the accident. When they arrived at the police officer who was directing traffic, Ted talked him into letting them drive down into the median and go around the accident. They chuckled as they drove around the accident everyone else had to detour. That was so Ted. Ted loved nature and spending time outside. He and Betty lived right on the lake at Sunbreaker Cove on Sylvan Lake. During summer evenings they loved sitting on the deck of their home or on the boat dock listening to the lonely call of loons and watching the sun set over the lake.
Ted loved life and looked for miracles in everything. Even during the dark days when his life was being threatened by cancer, he saw miracles all around him. And the word miracle seemed to be the only logical explanation for what happened as he bravely and optimistically faced the many surgeries and treatments that he went through. He was always very sure he would come off the victor, but sadly that was not to be. Ted leaves to mourn his passing his devoted and so loved wife Betty and his three children: Shaine Klassen (Guen) and their daughters Indiana and Kaiya who reside in Vancouver BC, his son Brad Klassen (Adrienne) and their daughters Natalia and Arielle also of Vancouver BC and his daughter Brett Gavan (Paul Wiles) and her children Dallas, Scarlett and Axel who reside in Calgary AB. He is also survived by Betty’s two daughters Paula (Derek) Zaharko and their sons Izayah and Kayden of Airdrie AB and Cassandra (Michael) Andres and their children Skylar, Mason and Jaxon of Red Deer. He also leaves behind his two sisters Carol (Don) Gibb of Rosemary AB and Verna (Les) Wright of Victoria, BC and younger brother Jim of Red Deer, AB.
His greatest joy in life was to spend time with his family, playing with them or encouraging them as they excelled in the things they undertook.
Ted also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews all of whom love him fiercely because he loved them first. They are spread across North America and as far away as Australia. Each one of them had a great love for Uncle Ted and they will miss him very much!
Ted will be greatly missed by his family and so many good friends, especially those with whom he played cards, curled or golfed. But mostly he will be missed by Betty. She was the love of his life. They made each other happy every day and were so grateful for the wonderful, fun filled seven years they spent enhancing each other’s lives and looking forward to another adventure tomorrow.
There will not be a funeral service at this time but later in the summer a celebration of life will be held for friends and family to gather, reflect upon and share their memories of Ted. The date of the event will be announced at a future time. Hopefully it will be held outdoors on a sun-drenched day at a golf course or at the beautiful lake which he loved.
Condolences to Ted’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net. Please indicate “Ted Klassen” in the subject line.
Arrangements in care of
Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service
A locally owned cremation and funeral provider
serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta
587-876-4944