Jacob A. Giesbrecht (1916-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Oct 4 p. 27

Birth date: 1916 Feb 3

text of obituary:

JACOB A. GIESBRECHT

Jacob A. Giesbrecht of Steinbach, Man. passed away June 23. He was born Feb . 3, 1916 to Abram and Maria Gies- brecht in Lichtenau, Ukraine. The family im- migrated to Hawksville, Ont. in June 1924; they moved to Hochfeld, Man. 8 months later and to a farm in Fortier, Man. in 1935. He at- tended school until grade 9 because a severe leg ailment rendered him useless as a farm- hand. He accepted Christ Nov. 6, 1937 in the Newton Siding Church and was baptized in spring 1938. He married Sarah Bergmann June 8, 1941 . They farmed near Fortier, then Ste. Anne, Man. He served 2 years as a con- scientious objector at Clear Lake, Man. and on Vancouver Island . They returned to farm at Clear Lake, then Clearspring, Man. He supple- mented his income by working on building a highway. They moved to Steinbach. He worked for 12 years as a mechanic at Loewen Garage, for a short time at CT Lowen and Son and for 18 years as a bookkeeper for Bergmann Meat Products . He and Sarah ser ved in Sunday school and as deacon couple for several decades, v is iting t he needy 2 evenings a week. He was a man of unwaver- ing principles wh o sought th e will of God in all things. He is remem bered for hi s fait hful p ra yer life, love of Scr iptu re , con cern for oth- ers, consis t en t thankfu lness and lo ve of na- ture, espec ially birds and wildflow er s. In 1992 Sarah moved to Res t Haven Nursing Home, Steinbach . He vi sit ed her twice da ily for 5 years. Not long after her death, he moved to Rest Haven. Pred ece ased by Sarah and a great-granddaughter, he is mourned by chil- dren Ruth Penner of Landmark, Man., Edie of Winnipeg, Jak e of Blumenort, Man. and Hildie Wiebe of Kelowna, B.C.; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Th e funer al was june 27 in Steinbach MB Church, with Abe Klassen minstering.