Rev. Dr. Oliver Johan Claassen
The Rev. Dr. Oliver Johan Claassen, 63, died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, from prostate cancer. He was born Aug. 9, 1945, in Grahamstown, South Africa.
For the last nine years, he served as the senior pastor of Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Prior to that, he served as missions pastor of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in Saint Louis, Mo.; senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Ga.; missionary and church planter in Australia with Mission to the World; and a schoolteacher in South Africa.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Grace Claassen; children, Daniel, David, Anna-Grace, Andrew and Phillip; grandson, Stewart Claassen; daughter-in-law, Esther; son-in-law, Matthew Lair; and sister, Merwynne Jones.
We rejoice with him as he is exalting our Lord and Savior, reminding us that the mystery of the Gospel is this, “Christ in you the Hope of Glory.”
Visitation will be held from noon1 p.m. today at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 701 Mohawk Parkway, with a funeral service to follow. Processional to Coral Ridge Cemetery, and reception at the church.