Groening, Jacob (1915-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Mar 8

Birth date: 1915 Mar 10

text of obituary:

JACOB GROENING

Jacob Groening of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Dec. 1. He was born Mar. 10, 1915 to Jacob and Margareta Groening in Ufa, Russia . When he was 8, his mother died. His father remarried, and the family moved to Halbstadt, Molotschna, Ukraine. He married Alice Hiller of Tiegenhagen, Molotschna, Dec. 31, 1939. Except for brief interludes, he was separated from his family for much of the next 9 years. During the war, he and his family fled separately to Germany; 2 children died. In 1947 he was reunited with Alice and their son in southern Germany. In 1948 they immigrated to Coaldale, Alta. He accepted Christ in 1949 and was baptized in Coaldale MB Church. He made many friends. In 1950, a daughter died in childbirth. In 1984 Alice died of cancer. Later that year, he married Margaret Martens. Throughout all the hardships in his life, he never lost his positive outlook or his warm, accepting spirit. Predeceased by Alice; 3 infant children, son Alfred in 1996 and a sister, he is mourned by Margaret; daughter Hilde Wiebe; 4 grandchildren; stepchildren Marlene Unruh, Linda Krause, Lori Sinclair, Helen Coughlin and Marianne Hill; and 2 sisters. The memorial service was Dec. 6 in Clearbrook MB Church, Abbotsford, with Art Isaac ministering.