Sandy resident Willa Classen, 88, died at her home with her family by her side on Friday, December 14, 2012.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Rose Catholic Church, located at 2727 NE 54th in Portland at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday December 20, 2012. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Wilhelmina Carolyn was born June 20, 1924 on a farm near Subiaco, Arkansas to Anna J. (Kriener) and Frank L. Etzkorn. She attended St. Benedicts Elementary School and then Paris High School. After graduating, Willa remained on the family farm until meeting her future husband in Arkansas.
On June 9 , 1951 Willa was united in marriage to Justin Classen. They made their home in Portland and raised their family. Besides caring for her family, she worked part time for different newspapers in the Portland area. In 2005, Willa and Justin moved to Sandy and made their home at Cascadia. Justin preceded her in death in January of 2007.
Willa was actively involved in the Catholic Church both in Portland and most recently in Sandy. She served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Rose Catholic Church and Willa and Justin were involved in volunteering with Meals on Wheels. In her younger years she enjoyed bowling, camping, going to the beach, outings to the Casino and taking road trips to Arkansas to visit family.
Surviving are her daughters, Debbie Stout of Portland and Mary Kerr of Zig Zag; her son, David Classen of Sandy; her brother, Ben Etzkorn of Arkansas; 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; she is preceded in death by her son Steve in 2006; 3 brothers and 3 sisters.