Anna Mae Klaassen

Anna Mae Klaassen age 87, of Mesa, AZ died Sunday, October 30, 2011 at the Dessert Oasis Nursing Home in Mesa. Funeral services will take place in Mesa, Arizona. Iowa services will include visitation Monday, November 7th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids, IA followed by Graveside service at Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock with Rev. David Poppen officiating. Anna Mae (Hinrichs) Klaassen was born on September 28, 1924 on the family farm near Little Rock, Iowa to Fred and Maggie (Block) Hinrichs. Anna Mae grew up helping on the farm and attended country school and then graduated from Little Rock High School in 1941. She worked in a caf and then at Sibley Creamery for four years. She then moved to Pella, Iowa and attended Central College. She graduated with a degree in Sociology. She moved to Des Moines, Iowa and was a faithful worker for Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the Claims Department for 35 years, from which she later retired. On July 9, 1944 Anna Mae confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and joined the Salem Reformed Church of Little Rock, Iowa. Not too long after moving to Des Moines, Anna Mae met a hometown boy. She married Harold Klaassen on October 2, 1953 in Salem Reformed Church of Little Rock, Iowa. They returned to Des Moines, Iowa to live. They were members of Bethany Reformed Church where Anna Mae taught Sunday School and served as Superintendent. Later, Anna Mae transferred their membership to the Meredith Drive Reformed Church. Anna Mae enjoyed reading and sewing. She enjoyed reading the Bible and belonged to the ladys study group. After retiring, they did quite a bit of traveling with their trailer, visiting many states and friends, and attending camp meetings. They moved to Arizona and joined and attended the Desert Haven Community Church. She is survived by two brothers, Willis F. Hinrichs (Jean) of Ankeny, Iowa and Bruce H. Hinrichs (Barb) of Denton, Texas. She also leaves behind a large number of nieces and nephews. Anna Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Harold D. Klaassen; one sister, Jennie Drenth; and her parents, Fred and Maggie Hinrichs.