Theresa "Terry" Lorraine Claassen

Theresa Lorraine Claassen (Terry), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away at the age of 78 at her home in Ashland, Missouri, on March 8, 2024, after a year-long battle with glioblastoma (brain cancer). She was the matriarch of the Claassen family: mother to five children, grandmother to 24 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren (with four more on the way). She was preceded in death by her son, Charles William Claassen, Jr.; her brother, William Francis Biederman II; and her parents, William Francis Biederman and Ardith Lorraine Biederman.

Terry grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she attended Jefferson High School and had lead roles in their musical productions. After graduation, she worked at Wilson-Sinclair packing pickled pigs feet in jars. Anytime her machine broke, the handsome mechanic had to fix it, which is how she met her husband of 55 years.

Chuck and Terry moved the family to Unionville, Missouri, in 1977 where they lived until 2022. They created a warm homestead in the country, where Terry, a “city mouse” quickly adjusted to life as a “country mouse.” She took her grandkids to the creek, went on long walks in the woods, wrote poetry, sat on the porch swing with Chuck, and was always singing whatever song was stuck in her head. She was a terrific baker and fudge-maker, and she was especially known for her amazing homemade pizza.

Over the years, she became a pillar of the First Christian Church in Unionville, devoting many years to the church as custodian and church secretary. She often shared readings or sang “specials” for the congregation on Sunday mornings.

Terry was a talented singer, writer, and performer. Her love of Broadway musicals spread to many of her children and grandchildren. She loved traveling and enjoyed visiting family all over the country. She fulfilled a life’s dream in 2022 when she traveled to Europe and attended a musical production in London and visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

She is survived by her husband, Charles Claassen of Ashland, Missouri; daughters Traci Schultz of Olympia, Washington; Jennie Belzer of Columbia, Missouri, and Amy MacConnell of Mount Juliet, Tennessee and son Mark Claassen of Nashville, Tennessee.

How lucky we all were to be loved by Terry Claassen.

A funeral service will be held at the Unionville First Christian Church in Unionville, Missouri, at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The visitation will begin one hour prior to her service. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, contributions in Terry’s memory may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association (abta.org) or the First Christian Church of Unionville - may be left with the funeral home.