Leo Ralph Classen

Leo R. Classen, 86, of Macon, MS passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Oakwood Manor in Brooksville, MS. Funeral services will be held at South Haven Mennonite Church at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 28, 2023. Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the church Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to Oakwood Manor, 55 Oakwood Drive, Brooksville, MS  39739. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements

Leo Ralph Classen was born on April 12, 1937, to Henry and Agnes Reimer Classen, in Meade, Kansas. Dad’s early days were spent on the prairies of southwest Kansas. The second son in a lineup of eight, he had to take his turn helping his mom with household duties and doing chores on the family farm. It was here as a young boy that Dad felt the call of God and gave his heart to Him. At this time, he became a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Meade. This experience stayed with him and was precious to him for the rest of his life. In 1953 the Henry Classen family moved to DeRidder, Louisiana. On Thanksgiving Day of the same year, Dad, together with his parents and brother Edwin, was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Minister Ervin Harms. As a young man he went to 1-W service in New Orleans, Louisiana, a time he often referred to fondly. Shortly after this time of service, Dad went to Montezuma, Kansas, to work, and while there, he met our mother, Margaret Giesbrecht. They were married on March 9, 1958, and made their home in DeRidder, where he worked as a mechanic. There they were blessed with three sons to love and care for.

The spring of 1967 found Leo and Margaret and boys moving to Macon, Mississippi, to work for Uncle Tobe Giesbrecht on his farm. Here two more sons joined the family. Eventually Dad began to farm on his own. This included row crop farming and later catfish farming, which provided sufficient living for the family. However, the farm never seemed to be a top priority. Dad was resourceful and found satisfaction in repairing and improvising. In February of 1973, Dad was called to the Gospel Ministry at South Haven Congregation, Macon, Mississippi. Dad took this responsibility seriously and spent much time in searching the scriptures and historical writings of our forefathers. He was deeply interested in history and had a special love for Old Testament writings and their application to spiritual life. His Bible is tattered and worn, full of underlining, notes, and Post-it arrows. He spent years serving on the Counseling Committee as well as the Doctrinal Proofreading Committee. Later in life Dad and Mom spent time shepherding several new congregations, which they really enjoyed, and which gained them many friends. They often spoke of their times in Bradley, Arkansas; Lobelville, Tennessee; Guntersville, Alabama; and Southern Magnolia, DeRidder, Louisiana. In 2017 it became apparent that Mom needed more care, and they moved to a cottage at Oakwood Retirement Community in Brooksville, Mississippi. Here he found fulfillment in helping with services and activities of the home. After several years, they moved into an assisted living apartment at Oakwood, where he devoted much of his time to helping care for Mom during her long gradual decline. She left us on September 15, 2022, creating an aching void in Dad’s life. We are thankful God’s mercy led him through these rough waters to an acceptance of his circumstances.

He is survived by his five sons: Gerald and Elaine, Randy and Ruby, Lynden and Treva of Macon; Wesley and Jeanette of Rector, Arkansas; and Russell and Michelle of Macon; twenty-two grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren; b rothers: Edwin and Betty, Aldo, Ron and Betty, Harry and Donna, Larry and Teresa, Loren and Marilyn, Don and Kathy, and sister-in-law, Alfreida Classen, as well as his Giesbrecht in-laws whom he dearly loved. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two infant sisters, and two infant brothers.