Ruth (nee Koop) Klassen

June 28, 2022
We are deeply saddened to announce the heavenly homecoming of Ruth (nee Koop) Klassen who shed her earthly body on June 28 at Victoria General Hospital following complications from a severe brain bleed. Ruth was 78 years old.
Ruth's life began in 1943 in Steinbach, Manitoba where she was born to Peter and Margaret Koop, her Dad's 16th child and her Mom's 9th.
Shortly after her birth, Ruth's family moved from Manitoba to Mission, British Columbia where she spent her early years and graduated from Mission High school. She then headed to Saskatchewan to attend Millar School of the Bible, where she studied about her Lord and Saviour and met a certain Art Klassen who she was soon to marry; a marriage that would last for 58 years.
Their early life together started out in a variety of places in Alberta and Saskatchewan before they settled in Steinbach Manitoba (now with four young children in tow) before heading the family back to Saskatchewan, and then to Vancouver and finally calling Nanaimo home.
Ruth loved to garden and could make almost any flowering plant grow. In addition to her beautiful garden, she loved to play table games, do puzzles, listen to music, and enjoyed spending time with family. Saturday mornings were often spent with the family hanging out together telling stories and laughing... Ruth loved to laugh. Life wasn't always easy but she always ensured that the needs of her family were met by working at whatever jobs she needed toin addition to running the household.
Ruth was a quiet soul who spent her life trying to avoid drama and the spotlight. She loved her Jesus and was committed to her church at First Baptist until her health declined to the point where she was no longer able to attend in person.
Ruth was predeceased by her Dad and Mom, as well as her siblings John, Anne, Bill, Sarah, Helen, Bernie, Peter, Frank, and Andrew.
Ruth will be greatly missed by her husband Art and her children Ken (Leona), Brian (Wendy), Shelly (Jeff), and Brenda (Sean). She has also left behind six grandchildren: Timothy, Hannah(Kellen), Nathanael, Joel, Macklen, and Miller, and one great-grandson Michael as well as siblings Kay, Tom, Tillie, Fred, Linda, and Adeline, and a host of nieces, and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Nanaimo on July 9th at 2 p.m.
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. John 11:25.