Alma Elizabeth (Nickel) Klassen

With contentment and peace Alma went to her heavenly home at age 94. During the night she quietly slipped into the presence of God at Maplewood House in Abbotsford, B.C.

Alma was born in Borden, Saskatchewan to Peter Nickel and Katherine Goertz. Being the eldest daughter of 9 children helped prepare her for her own 9, later on. The Nickel family moved from Glenbush to Yarrow, B.C. in 1937 and they loved beautiful British Columbia. Picking hops and berries with her siblings and friends were some of her best memories. They built a family home on a farm on Gladwin Road in Abbotsford, which is still owned by a Nickel.

The Christian faith expressed through music and deed were an everyday part of Alma’s youth. Young Peoples, trios, choirs, street corner singing made fond memories Alma held dear the rest of her life. She came to her own personal faith in Jesus early in life and never departed but grew deeper.

In 1949, Alma married John Cornelius Klassen who had moved to Abbotsford from Boissevain, Manitoba. They moved back to the Klassen family farm in Boissevain where sons Don and Rudy were born.  From there, they moved to Black Creek, BC where John started a trucking business and daughters Ruth and Kathy were born. Surrey was the next home where son John and daughters Karen, Evelyn and Vivian were born. While living in Golden, B.C. daughter Lorraine was born. The family then lived in Creston, B.C. until making Calgary home in 1967. John always had his trucking business while Alma looked after the children and the home. Alma was famous for her gardening talents, both vegetable - which they ate fresh and lots for canning and flowers for the beauty.

John and Alma continued living in the Calgary area until John passed away in 2008. Alma moved into Assisted Living in Calgary after that. Then she got the idea to move to Abbotsford and move into Tabor Court where her sister Hulda was living. So, in 2010 after 60 years she made the bold move back to Abbotsford. In 2016 she needed more care and was moved to Maplewood House.

She is predeceased by her siblings Henry, Hulda, Tina, John and Jake. She will be missed by siblings Abe, Dan and Peter. She will be mourned but cherished by her children Don (Sheri), Rudy (Colette), Ruth, Kathy, John (Doreen), Karen (John Karperian), Evelyn (Gordon Luste), Vivian and Lorraine (Peter Zandbergen). Many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews will remember her with great admiration.

Her children thank the caring staff at Maplewood House for the loving care they showed her in her last years.

A Celebration of Life was at Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford on Thursday May 17, 2018 at 7:00 pm. A second Memorial and interment at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary was held Tuesday May 22, 2018. 

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.