Dyck, Jacob J. (1912-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2001 Oct 12 p. 27

Birth Date: 1912 May 24

text of obituary:

JACOB J. DYCK

Jacob J. Dyck of Saskatoon passed away June 2. He was born May 24, 1912 to Jacob P. and Katharine Dyck in Schoenhurst, Ukraine. His mother died of typhoid, and his father remarried. When Jacob was 7, his father died and his stepmother put him and his older brother and younger sister into an orphanage. He and his brother were adopted by Peter Thiessen. At 16, he went to work on a collective farm. He was a hard worker and quickly became foreman. In 1933 he married and had 2 children, who were all taken away in 1941 when war broke out. When Germany invaded Russia, he was forced to join the German army. He served as a soldier and was taken prisoner to a camp in France till the end of the war. Then, he searched for his family and worked on various farms in Germany. He found his sister was living in Guernsey, Sask. He immigrated to Canada in 1949 and worked for Jake Wiens of Watrous, Sask. He moved to Calgary to work in construction. In 1951 he married Johanna. In 1953 they bought a farm in Mohawk Park School District. He worked hard operating a mixed farm. In 1981 he retired to Watrous. He enjoyed having discussions with friends over coffee, spending time with his grandchildren and working for his son when he wanted. Despite his many ordeals, he always found strength and comfort in his Lord. In 1998, Johanna died, and he moved to Saskatoon. He is mourned by sons John of Saskatoon and Jakob of Paderborn, Germany; and 2 grandchildren. The funeral was June 6 in Philadelphia MB Church, Watrous, with Ernie Bergen and LaVerne Jantz ministering.