Obituary of Gerard Alexander Klassen

It was my ambition to die young at a very advanced age, having suffered as little as possible in the process. Born in Thunder Bay, I was in the first grade twelve graduating class from Lakeview High School. In 1962 I was in the final graduation class of the three-year Bethel Bible Institute program in Saskatoon. I joined General Foods as a sales rep, headquartered in Moose Jaw, in 1964. Because I surpassed many sales records I was promoted to Saskatoon in 1966. Two months later I married Patricia Armstrong. Fifteen months later, at 251 pounds¸ I was hired by R.J. Strasenburg Pharmaceuticals as a sales rep. RJS took a chance on me because most of their pharmaceutical products were “diet” pills – lose weight or lose your job! Because I couldn’t write prescriptions, I became the “cheerleader” for RJS prescription products. Saskatchewan physicians made my territory the top volume sales territory in Canada. Almost fifteen years later, I joined Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals which later became Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. Once again, Saskatchewan physicians made my territory the top volume sales territory in Canada, North America and the sixty countries in the world in which P&G operated. During my 34 years and 4 months in pharmaceuticals I helped to place 64 physicians as locums and assistants, and I brokered the sale of one medical practice twice. I believed that this was the only sales career where you could get paid for “visiting with your friends” and I understood that you must leave your clients longing rather than loathing. At 65 years of age I learned the identity of my biological parents. My surviving family includes my loving wife, Pat, three half-brothers, Sandy (Bea) Ligate, Bill Ligate and Tim Adams, and three half-sisters, Betty (Ligate) Smith, Barbara Ligate, and Erin (Adams) Millman, as well as numerous cousins. Because it was Gerry`s desire to go back to school after his death he made tentative arrangements to donate his body to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, U of S College of Medicine. I renewed my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior in 1998. Pat and I served as the Elim Coordinators for the International Friendship Program, a division of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and I also served on the National Board of IVCF. In 2002 Pat and I went on a missions trip to Ivanovo, Russia, led by Marvin Wojda, where we worked in the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center of a Bible School. During retirement, I spent over three years at Horizon College and Seminary working as a volunteer in the Distance Education Department. Altogether I videotaped lectures and produced fourteen complete college courses consisting of 35 to 40 hours each. Flowers are gratefully declined; instead, donations may be made to chosen charities.