Sawatzky, Jacob G. (1898-1974)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1974: May 17 p. 28

Birth date: 1898 Sept 04

text of obituary:

JACOB G. SAWATZKY

Jacob G. Sawatzky was born on September 4, 1898 in the village of Felsenbach, the province of Kherson, Ukraine to Gerhard and Justina (nee Wiebe) Sawatzky. He emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1921 and from there to Canada in 1925. On November 15, 1925 he was united in marriage to Maria Schellenberg in Gnadenthal, Manitoba. They were blessed with five sons and three daughters.

He received Christ as his Saviour in 1924 and in 1927, upon confession of his faith, was baptized and received into the Mennonite Brethren Church.

In January of 1947 the family moved from Manitoba to B.C. and have lived in the Abbotsford area for the past 27 years.

Of great concern to him was the spiritual welfare of the children and grandchildren as well as that of other relatives and friends. His heart was burdened for the work of missions.

On March 25, 1974, at the age of 76, he was suddenly called into the presence of the Lord. He was pre-deceased by two brothers, Frank and Ben of Winkler, and one sister, Anna in Russia.

He is survived by his wife, Maria; three daughters and their husbands: Hilda and Corny Enns of Surrey, B.C., Martha and Irwin Stobbee of Abbotsford, B.C. and Lillian and Peter Kroeker of Richmond, B.C.; five sons and their wives: John and Agnes of Delta, B.C.; Jake and Beverly of Burnaby, B.C.; George and Ruth of Tsawwassen, B.C.; Albert and Betty of Surrey, B.C., and Alfred and Evangeline of Abbotsford, B.C.; 28 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers; and many relatives and friends.

The funeral was on March 29 in the Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church. The officiating ministers were Rev. H. Lenzmann, Rev. J.J. Sawatzky and Rev. John J. Stobbe. He was laid to rest in the Hazelwood Mennonite Cemetery, Abbotsford, B.C.