Arthur Charles Klassen

On July 9, 2022, Dr. Arthur C. Klassen died after a brief and blessedly painless battle with cancer while surrounded by his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Arthur was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 5, 1933. He was preceded in death by his first wife Milly Dyck Klassen, his parents Henry and Catherine Klassen, his brother Frank Klassen, and his sister Greti Peters. He is survived by his second wife Camilla Reiersgord, his children Rebecca Maddaus and John Klassen, his devoted daughter-in-law Amy Brandl, his beloved grandchildren Jordan Maddaus, Jack Klassen and Clara Klassen, his brother Rudi Klassen, his sister Mera Neufeldt (Leonard Neufeldt), his stepchildren Diane Kontar (Yevgeny), Susan Khatri, Robert Reiersgord and Julia Reiersgord, and his step grandchildren, Nicholas, Samantha and Jackson Khatri.
Arthur's parents, though recent immigrants to Canada with limited financial resources, emphasized the importance of education. Arthur took this instruction to heart and graduated from high school at 16 years old, and college at 19 years old. He then decided to become a doctor. While in medical school at the University of Manitoba, Arthur met his soon-to-be wife Milly at a church function. Milly was a nurse in Winnipeg and they were the perfect match for each other. They married in 1956, the same year Arthur graduated from medical school at age 23. He first practiced medicine in Brandon, Manitoba from 1956-1960. In 1960, Arthur and Milly decided to leave the prairies of Canada for an adventure in South America, where Arthur signed up with the Mennonite Central Committee to run a leprosy study for a global health project. He and Milly lived for over two years in a remote region of Paraguay, working with indigenous tribes and farming communities in an effort to stamp out endemic leprosy in the region.
Upon leaving Paraguay in 1962, Arthur made the decision to become a neurologist and applied to a medical school in Minnesota and one in Montreal. He and Milly chose Minnesota and he ended up working at, and helping build, the University of Minnesota Department of Neurology. He spent the next forty-eight years at the U of M Medical School as a professor and physician, including many years as neurology department chair. Many of his closest friends were those he worked with in the neurology department, especially his nurses and assistants with whom he formed deep friendships that endured to the day he died.
Arthur was the embodiment of curiosity, patience, generosity, grace, kindness, wisdom and unfailing loyalty to his family and friends. He gave generously to many charitable groups, and he had a special love for the Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis, Park, Minnesota, where he dedicated his time and money so everyone could enjoy animals and nature. Arthur was a fantastic husband and father. Daughter Rebecca was adopted in late 1963, and son John was born soon after in early 1965. Arthur was the role model every child needed. He and Milly filled the family home with books, music and endless opportunities for learning and adventure. He also taught his children and grandchildren the importance of family, and constant large family gatherings were the norm in the Klassen house. His siblings and their children were important parts of his family life.
Arthur was blessed to have three grandchildren, Jordan, Jack and Clara, each of whom had a special relationship with their grandpa. They each had their own unique personality and their grandpa couldn't have been prouder of them and he let people know it. Near the end, Arthur's granddaughters Jordan and Clara helped him dictate and edit his personal history, which allowed a unique opportunity for them to say goodbye to him.
Outside of work, Arthur was an accomplished and award-winning photographer, and he traveled the world on photographic safaris. He was also an avid downhill skier into his late 70s, and he enjoyed flyfishing and hunting across Canada and the United States.
After Milly died in 2003, Arthur met Camilla Reiersgord in a grief support group at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. They married in 2007 and were constant companions for over 15 years, living in Camilla's home. When Arthur began feeling ill in January, his stepdaughter Diane moved in and took care of him and her mother for many months. He was so grateful for her dedicated care and spoke of it often.
The night before Arthur passed, his brother-in-law and close friend from high school, Peter Peters, attended a special gathering for Arthur at John and Amy's home where Art was in hospice care. Also attending were numerous nieces and nephews and their family members, his children and granddaughter Jordan. Music was played, hugs were freely given, toasts were made, tears were shed and Arthur's full and happy life was fittingly celebrated. Arthur enjoyed every minute of that evening.
Our family will miss you so much. You were always willing and able to give your children, grandchildren, family members and friends great advice whenever they requested or needed it which was often. Thank you for being such a wonderful husband, parent, grandparent, brother, uncle and friend. You set the bar kind of high...
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior on Friday, August 12th at Westwood Hills Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin Ave., St. Louis Park, MN. 952-924-2544 In lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable contributions be considered for the Mennonite Central Committee or Audubon Society.
Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996