Edward William "Eddie" Claassen, age 88, of Hot Springs, SD, passed away on February 21, 2015,at the VA Black Hills Health Care, Fort Meade, SD.

Eddie was born at the pioneer family farm homestead of his grandparents Herman and Elizabeth Haufschild, September 30, 1926, near Bryant, SD, to David and Ann (Haufschild) Claassen. Eddie attended school for 12 years at the Erwin Consolidated School, graduating in 1944. He attended Agricultural School at South Dakota State College in Brookings for a time following high school graduation. He was engaged in farming after that. He enjoyed caring for livestock, especially his flock of sheep.

He served proudly in the Army during the Korean War and had a tour of duty in Germany from 1954 until his honorable discharge in 1956. Upon his return home, he continued farming.

He was a member of Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bryant, where he had attended Sunday School and Youth Group. Edward enjoyed playing board games, like Mill and Finance, with family, and excelled in math and science during his schooling. He enjoyed visiting with relatives, neighbors and friends. Edward retired from farming in the 1990's.He was thankful for the quality of life that the South Dakota Veterans Home and VA Health Care System made possible during his latter years. He appreciated the staff members and their dedicated compassionate care. He was a resident of the MJF South Dakota Veterans Home, Hot Springs, at the time of his death.

Eddie is survived by one sister, Dorothy Streeter of Volga, SD; two nieces, Deanna Streeter, Maria Bertsch; and one nephew, Alan Streeter.

He is preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Ernest.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 27, 2015, in the Auditorium of the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home in Hot Springs with Chaplain Deb Grismer officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2015, at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.