Private funeral service will be held with interment to follow at Gretna Cemetery. Viewing will be from 1PM-8PM on Friday at Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler. Donations may be made in Ernie's memory to Global Missions Inc.

Ernest D. Klassen

1958 ~ 2020

 

Ernest D. (Ernie) Klassen 62, of Kaleida, MB was born March 23, 1958 to David D. & Susanna Klassen (nee Derksen). He died Saturday, October 31st at St. Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg. He is survived by one sister, Evelyn and husband Neil Fehr and their family, 2 brothers David and his wife Aileen and their family and Herb Klassen. He was predeceased by his parents David and Susanna Klassen, 1 sister and 2 brothers.

 

Ernie was diagnosed with throat cancer in August, 2018. He was advised to start treatments immediately by the medical profession, but Ernie wasn’t convinced that that would be the best route for him. He looked on-line for alternative options such as diet, supplements, and other healthy avenues for a cure. He seemed to be doing relatively well for some time. This last summer the tumour decided to grow more rapidly and from there it seemed like a downhill battle. The tumour was affecting his breathing, his swallowing, and his speech. It seemed to me; Ernie was surreal in-spite of what was happening to his body. He slowly, but graciously took one day at a time. Finally, on Saturday, October 24 he asked, my brother, David to take him to St. Boniface Hospital, in Winnipeg, to have a breathing tube put in. Ernie had surgery that night. Two minutes into surgery his heart went into cardiac arrest. They performed CPR and were able to bring him back and put in the breathing tube.

David & I went to see Ernie after he was out of intensive care and in palliative care. He communicated with us by writing his answers on paper on Monday and then on Tuesday things changed again for Ernie. He slept much more and responded with the movement of his head when asked questions. Through all these hardships his faith in God remained steadfast, never wavering from the fact that God could heal him if he so chose. …The Lord gives and the Lord takes away... Job 1:21. Ernie was right, God did heal him, when he took Ernie home to be with Him.

 

Ernie, our brother, was a friendly person who loved to visit and talk. Everyone he met was a friend. Ernie asked for forgiveness of his sins and invited Jesus to live in his heart at the age of nine in Gretna, MB after he watched the movie produced by the Billy Graham Organization called “For Pete’ Sake”. You can still watch that movie on utube, as I recently did. Ernie was baptized later in life at church camp in North Battleford, SK. Ernie faced many curves in the road throughout his life. He overcame some of them, but not all of them as the journey was challenging. We all, like Ernie, have our good times and our bad times but God is faithful. I believe that God in His great love, mercy and grace was always near to Ernie. Jesus says in the Bible “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. Ernie was very conscious of God and would ask his co-workers and others he met whether they knew Jesus. He was not shy to share Jesus, whom he believed in. After Ernie retired from Manitoba Water Stewardship in 2014 he devoted more time to fixing old cars. He would buy an old car, fix it, and then take it for a spin. He was a backyard mechanic, very handy and would tackle almost anything that needed fixing. Ernie loved his nieces and nephews and later when the great-nephews and niece came along, he cherished them as well. So, Ernie we all love you and leave you in the hands of Jesus who does all things well.
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Some memories Trevor has of his Uncle Ernie.
I remember when Uncle Ernie and Uncle Harv gave me and my sister, Stephanie a toboggan for Christmas. That was a fun gift! I also remember Uncle Ernie giving everyone chocolates for Christmas. This was above and beyond the secret Santa. Another time I also had a chance to play some pool with Uncle Ernie. He was
always at the family gatherings and that gave me a chance to get to know him as a friend. I will miss Uncle Ernie!