Obituary of Minnie Esther Helms Claassen

Mrs. Minnie Esther Helms Claassen, a resident of Ozark, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2023. She was 82 years old. Funeral services for Mrs. Claassen will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 17, 2023 in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Johnny Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in Newton City Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ozark Tuesday from 1:00 P.M. until service time. Serving as pallbearers will be Garett, Cole, Roland and Joshua Claassen, Joshua Maddox and Erik Hussey. Mrs. Claassen was born March 9, 1940 to the late Ralph Theldon Helms and Minnie Estelle Spivey Helms. She grew up in Louisville/Blue Springs and then moved to Columbus, Georgia. She met Gary Linn Claassen when he was stationed in Fort Benning, finishing his military career. They were married soon after they met. They moved to Newton, Alabama where she and Gary raised three boys and lived happily for many years. Mrs. Claassen received a degree in nursing at Wallace Community College and worked as a Registered Nurse with Dale Medical Center for about thirty years. She was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ozark. Mrs. Claassen very much loved traveling, cooking and enjoying time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed many adventures with her husband, children and grandchildren and lived a wonderful life. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Linn Claassen; her son, Gary Steve Claassen and her sister, Faye Kelley. She is survived by her children, Dr. Chris Anthony Claassen (Dawn) of Enterprise and Dr. David Allan Claassen (Christy) of Dothan; one brother, Randy Stevenson; living grandchildren, Garett Claassen, Cole Claassen, Kelly Claassen Hussey, Roland Claassen, Joshua Claassen, Jordan Claassen, Joshua Maddox and Andrew White; one great grandchild, Evelyn Maddox. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made in her memory to Community Hospice of Dale Medical Center, 126 Hospital Avenue, Ozark, Alabama 36360; or to Newton City Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 10, Newton, Alabama 36352. The family would like to thank special caregivers Dawn Claassen, Shirley Reeves and Angelia Laster.