Franz, Jacob H. (1913-1978)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Jan 19 p. 30

Birth date: 1913 July 28

text of obituary:

JACOB H. FRANZ

Jacob H. Franz of Clearbrook, B.C., for a number of years the pastor of the King Road Mennonite Brethren Church, Clearbrook, went peacefully to be with his Lord on November 25, 1978. He was born July 26, 1913 in Ebenfeld, in the Crimea. In his early years he lost his parents, but the Lord wonderfully provided a home and parents for him and his sister Agatha with Franz and Maria Koop. Later his two brothers, Henry Allert and Jack Kope, were also taken into the family. He gave his life to the Lord at the age of 14 and while in Bible school in Coaldale, Alberta, at the age of 21 he recommitted himself to the Lord. He was baptized and received into the Coaldale Church in 1936. After graduating from the Coaldale and Three Hills Bible schools, he taught for three years. During this time, on July 8, 1942, he married Helen Janzen. In 1944 he was ordained to the ministry by his home church and in 1945 they received a call from the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions to begin a work among the Chulupi Indians of Paraguay. The following year in March, he and his wife, and the B.P. Epps left Canada for their first term of service. The Lord blessed the ministry and many Indians were saved and churches and schools begun. In 1955 he was appointed missions secretary for Paraguay and in this capacity worked with the Light to the Indians mission in the Chaco, the Spanish mission in Asuncion and the German MB churches. In 1961, they moved to Asuncion where he helped organize the first German MB church and remained its first leader until 1969. In 1971, he was called to pastor the King Road Mennonite Brethren Church in British Columbia, a service he fulfilled for nearly eight years.

He leaves to mourn his wife Helen; three sons, James and Jane of Coaldale, Ernie of Clearbrook, Ken and Heidi of Victoria; three daughters, Esther (Mrs. Klaus) Schneidereit, Rosedale, B.C., Eleanor (Mrs. Ernst) Thielmann, Asuncion, Paraguay, Karen (Mrs. Lawrence) Sawatsky, Killarney, Man.; three grandsons; two brothers; and many other friends and relatives.

The funeral was conducted from the Central Heights Mennonite Brethren Church on December 2 with Hans Wiens, a co-worker in the mission in Paraguay, leading the service. He greeted the congregation with Rev. 12:11 , sent by Dr. John A. Toews on behalf of the General Conference. Rudy Boschman brought greetings with Gen. 5:24 to the family and congregation from the Missions / Services board. The funeral messages were given by Victor Toews, using Psalm 1, and Henry G. Classen, using Phil. 1:20·23. P.R. Toews brought greetings on behalf of the Canadian Conference. At the cemetery, D.B. Wiens served with final words of challenge and comfort for family and friends.