Tribute

LIFE STORY – EVELYN FRANCES ESTHER  CLASSEN LOEWEN TAETZ

Evelyn Frances Esther Classen was born to Rev. Henry and Sara (nee Niessen) Classen on March 24, 1938, in Aberdeen Saskatchewan.  She was raised on a farm in Aldergrove with her four siblings, older brother Wes, two older sisters, Lillian, and Ruth and one younger sister, Viola. As a result of her Godly upbringing, she received Jesus Christ into her heart at age 9 and was baptized 5 years later. Her parents were called to be Missionaries in the City of Vancouver to start The Pacific Grace Mission Chapel in 1950 where they served for over 20 years. Evie met Tony at a church choir practice. Plans were made to go to Grouse Mountain on January 9, 1955, where Tony asked Evie to join him on the chairlift. So began their courtship and Evelyn was married to Anton (Tony) Loewen on September 7, 1957. They were blessed with three children: Debra Lynn (1960), Catherine Grace (1962) and Steven Anthony (1964). From the spring of 1967 until spring of 1970 their family was blessed to foster Tony Pipke. He was like a son and so after 50 years of separation their reunion in 2018 was a huge blessing in her life.

Evie loved nothing more than spending time with family. Before any gatherings she would stay up all night baking everyone’s favorite treats and of course GG buns. She loved one on one time with her 11 grandchildren and 15 great grands and another 2 babies who went to heaven before her.

Evie and Tony were married for 43 years before Jesus took him home on August 21, 2000. His passing left a deep void in her life and after 4 lonely years she was wooed by Sam Taetz. He regularly called into her switchboard at Trinity Western University, but she declined his many invitations until he eventually convinced her to attend a Southern gospel event. His persistence paid off, they married June 19, 2004, on the TWU campus. Sam sang “you are my sunshine” almost every day of their 10 years together.

Her life was not only rich in family but in friendships. She wrote the following for a ladies luncheon;

“Friendships are vitally important to me and it is one thing in my life that I never want to lose. I personally would not survive on an Island. I love people and I love being with People. Age, gender, interests, and proximity does not define FRIENDSHIP for me. I have many friends that have different interests than I do, however I can always find something that we have in common. Everyone loves to share a good meal, be heard, understood, loved, and prayed for, not to mention, a good laugh. There is no greater compliment for me than when someone calls me their friend.”

Evie loved Life and the Giver of Life.  She LOVED her Jesus. She LOVED her Family, and she LOVED her friends.