Eunice M. Classen

Mom was born May 6, 1923 on their farm in LaSalle, Colorado, to Gottfried and Helen Reck. She was one of fourteen children, three having died in infancy. Their life on the farm in Colorado was hard. In 1932 the country was in the midst of the Depression and the family was desperate, so Helen made the difficult decision to take her remaining nine children
living at home and move to Oregon . They traveled by a Model A car, which the older brothers took turns driving. Needless to say, it was a most harrowing experience. Eunice was twelve years old when they arrived in Portland. They all needed to work to support the family. She recalled throwing wood in basements of homes for 30 cents an hour. That summer her Mom, Helen found a home for them to rent, which was located at the current site of the Memorial Coliseum. Mom’s family and her church were her strength, courage and comfort. No matter what life threw their way, they were all determined to live with respect and honor God. Eunice was married in 1941, at eighteen years of age to Carl Hoelzer and they bore four children; Judy, Sue, Norman and Carlene. Sadly, the marriage ended in divorce in 1965. In 1967, she married Norman Classen and they were married for 32 years. She was widowed in 1999. In 2011 Eunice suffered from a stroke forcing her to move from her Milwaukie home to the Courtyard at Mount Tabor, in independent living. She often said the thing she missed most was her car and the independence it gave her. Mom was independent, feisty, fiercely loyal, strong in character, yes, opinionated, but most overarching, she loved deeply and constantly! She loved first her God and her family.
God was faithful throughout Mom’s life. He was merciful, allowing her to be physically able to live somewhat independently her last six years. God was merciful to Mom to the end. And although she suffered a massive stroke on New Year’s Day, she died early January 2nd , being spared prolonged pain and suffering. Mom is celebrating in Heaven today with her Heavenly Father and rejoicing with her
family as they are finally reunited!