Lawrence ‘June’ Bernard Klassen Jr.-
Lawrence ‘June’ Bernard Klassen Jr.
November 10, 1928- January 8, 2023
FULLERTON—Lawrence ‘June’ Bernard Klassen Jr., 94, of Fullerton, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Arbor Care Center in Fullerton.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton with Reverend David Fulton officiating. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Fullerton with military honors by Fullerton American Legion Post #151. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. vigil service Tuesday, January 10th at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.
June was born November 10, 1928 to Lawrence and Clara (Chavanu) Klassen Sr. in Boone County, Nebraska. He attended school in Boone and Nance counties. June served in the United States Air Force from 1950-1954. When he finished basic training, he came home and married Virginia Nelson on June 11, 1951 in Platte County. After, he was stationed in California from 1951-1952. From 1952-1954, he was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged and moved back to western Nance County, where he farmed until he retired in 2011 at 82 years old. In 2005, June and Virginia moved to Fullerton, where they currently resided.
During his time, June served on multiple boards including Belgrade Volunteer Fire Department, Nance County Fair Board, Nance County ASCS Board, Farmers Coop Board, and he served on the Nance County Supervisors Board. He was also a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton.
June enjoyed his life on the farm, from farming to raising livestock. His family always remembered him bringing into the house baby calves to warm up during the winter months. He also enjoyed his time up at Pickstown, SD doing a little gambling and visiting with his friends and neighbors while having coffee and discussing farm life. The neighbors and him always worked together as a family helping each other out no matter what while planting, haying, combining, etc. He will be greatly missed by his family, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia ‘Gin’ of Fullerton; five children, Vickie (Gene) Vetick of Fullerton, Gwen (Jim) Plumbtree of Brandon, SD, Lawrence ‘Butch’ (fiancée, Chris Watts) Klassen III of Belgrade, Angie Quandt of Bellevue, and Kent Klassen of Lincoln; 14 grandchildren and several great and step-grandchildren; sister, Delores Hodges of Phoenix, AZ; sisters-in-law, Diane Klassen of Hastings and Diana Klassen of St. Edward; brother-in-law, Roger (Virgie) Nelson of Genoa; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Raymond (Amy) Klassen, Duane, and Gene Klassen; sister, Eileen (Jack) Crawford; and brothers-in-law, Bill Hodges and Don (Rosemary) Nelson.