Ferd Klassen was born in Paraguay and came to Canada with his parents and siblings when he was only 2 months old. His childhood years were spent playing hockey and shooting slingshots and pellet guns.
While in his teen years, along with his siblings he experienced a family breakup that could have devastated him. Ferd and his siblings were taken in by another family member and raised with 9 other children. Like many others who have experienced such challenges, he was faced with difficult choices in the ensuing years—choices that could have led to very different endings.
As a community, we can be grateful for the choices he did make.
My first recollections of Ferd are that he loved hanging out at the Niverville Autobody. Brothers George and Dave Dyck gave him his first opportunity to work, and he became the floor sweeper. Many years later, Ferd went on to purchase the autobody shop. Through the ensuing years, Ferd has purchased more land and expanded the business. He’s added more staff over time, putting his focus on providing clients with quality workmanship and a strong service attitude.
At the age of 16, he went from hanging around the firefighters in Niverville to joining the department. He went on to serve a full 26 years with the Niverville Fire and Paramedic Service. For the last 18 years, he served as fire chief. He has described the emotional challenges that come with being there to help people who are going through the worst experiences of their lives. Seeing the images that accompany car wrecks, suicides, and the deadly ramifications of the fires he attended all take a toll. That toll isn’t something that those of us in the community would necessarily ever know about. After attending to an emergency call where his employee of 9 years passed away at the age of 28, he knew that it was time to wrap things up.
Ferd has served us well. I am thankful for men such as Ferd, who is a community builder in every sense of the word. I and the citizens of Niverville honour his service and contribution.
While conversing with Ferd, he expressed appreciation to his wife Carisa for her support these many years. He is so grateful for his 3 children, Lauren, Bailey, and Tessa. Relaxing these days involves spending time with his children, working around the yard, and attending Winnipeg Jets hockey games.
