Memorable Manitobans: Benno Richard Klaassen (1924-2004)

Educator.

Born at Gretna on 18 June 1924, son of Diedrich Klaassen (1867-1952) and Kathrina Wieler (1880-?), he farmed near Gretna into the 1950s prior to embarking on a 30-plus year career in education. He taught at Salt Point School (?-?), Little Bullhead School (c1962), Springstein School (c1963), Barrick School (1964-1965), Bad Throat School (1965-1967, Principal), St. Eustache School (?-?), Eriksdale School (c1974), Lundar School (?-1979), near Poplarfield (1979-?), and was Principal of Broad Valley Colony School (?-1984). In retirement, he travelled extensively. He had seven children with his first wife Mary Loewen. A marriage on 11 March 1992 to Tekla “Teena” Wowryk (?-2001) at Las Vegas, Nevada ended in divorce in 2000. He died at Bethesda Place in Winnipeg on 4 September 2014 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Sources:

Morden estate files (ATG 0064A), #8017 Diedrich Klaassen, GR0348, Archives of Manitoba.

Winnipeg and Selkirk family files (ATG 0040A), FD99-01-56432, Benno R. Klaassen and Tekla Klaassen, Court Registry System.

“Lundar,” Stonewall Argus & Teulon Times, 4 July 1979, page 11.

“Lakeshore School Division,” Interlake Spectator, 16 May 1984, page 30.

Obituary [Tekla Klaassen], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 July 2001, page 49.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 6 September 2014, page B16.

Nicholas Wheeler family tree, Ancestry.

Canadian Voter Lists, Ancestry.

We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 20 March 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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