Eldon Klassen

November 16, 1945 - September 20, 2019

Eldon R. Klassen, 73, passed away Friday, September 20, 2019 at home in Soap Lake, Washington. He was born November 16, 1945 in Wenatchee, Wash. and was raised in Elk, Wash. with his father, Frank Klassen and mother, Mildred Klassen. Eldon grew up on his family farm milking cows then moved on and worked at the U&I sugar factory in Moses Lake, Wash. He eventually moved on driving bus for the Soap Lake School District for 31 years before he retired. He was extremely proud of that career and we all loved to hear stories about his time there. One story he always told was the time he was coming back late one night from a sporting event in a different city when a deer jumped out and hit the bus and all the girls on the bus said “ohhh, you killed poor Bambi” – that deer ran off and was never found, even after looking – he loved to tell that story. His hobbies included going to karaoke at the Ephrata Eagles Lodge with his wife but only to listen and dance; he played pinochle and bingo at the Soap Lake Senior Center. Eldon loved to go fishing with Matthew and Mercedes when they were younger, attending car shows with his 1966 Thunderbird, to go swimming in Soap Lake, and he definitely loved teasing and loving on his wife and grandchildren. Eldon was never just happy with marrying Lois just once and asked her many, many times throughout their marriage of almost 50 years to marry him again and again. Every year Eldon and Lois had a tradition of going up to Lake Wenatchee, Wash. camping for Father’s Day. Eldon was a loving and caring man. He was always willing to help when someone needed it. He will forever be loved and missed by his family and his friends. We would also like to thank the men and women who came and did everything they could to help us. You are amazing and we are grateful to have such wonderful sheriffs, paramedics, and the Soap Lake fire and police departments helping our community. Eldon is survived by his loving wife Lois Klassen; his daughters Melanie and Tammy; many grandchildren Sheri (Danny) of Spokane, Wash, Matthew (Tia) of Soap Lake, Wash., Mercedes (Mitchell) of Warden, Wash., Michael of Ellensburg, Wash., Sasha of Othello, Wash., Brandon of Minnesota; and his great-grandchildren Steven, JennieAnne, Amara, Rebecca, and Savannah. Eldon was the oldest of five and was preceded in death by Arin Klassen, James Cox, John Cox, and Linda Bustos; and by his daughter, Lori. Graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Valley View Memorial Park in Soap Lake. Memorials may be made to his wife, Lois, to help with expenses. Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.nicolesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata, Wash.