Hildebrand, Jacob D. (1928-1972

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1972 Jun 02 p. 30

Birth date: 1928 Mar 10

text of obituary:

JACOB D. HILDEBRAND

Born March 10, 1928 at Lauder Manitoba of his parents Daniel and Anna Hildebrand. He was the sixth in a large family and very early demonstrated a keen sense of responsibility and maturity. He attended public school in Manitoba while assuming a major role in the daily work of running a farm. His education was interrupted for several years while he assisted his father. He then returned to his studies in high school by correspondence courses, except for one year at Steinbach.

At the age of 19 he came to know Jesus Christ as his Saviour and was baptised in 1948 in the Niverville MB church. In his Christian walk he was exemplary to his family, friends and associates. An extremely hard worker he took life, its duties as well as its privileges, seriously. He seemed to recognize that his time was limited. He spent one year in Voluntary Service in a School for Delinquent Boys in N.Y State and one year on staff at Bethesda Home, Vineland.

He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree, attended the Ontario College of Education and taught high school for 15 years, including two years in Samoa.

He was married on December 17, 1955 at Kitchener to Mary Naomi Nafziger. They had four children, Katherine, Mary Howard and Grace.

A vigorous and apparently healthy man of 44 years, he died suddenly of a coronary occlusion while working on a new house on April 15, 1972. His tasks completed, he has gone to be with the Saviour whom he loved, served and trusted. His dedicated life and faith are expressed in this verse he had kept:

"I do not ask to live a life of ease,! Nor do I ask for worldly praise,! For cloudless skies through all my days;! But just that thou wilt keep me still,/ To mold and bend me to thy will/And lead me on."

He was preceded in death by his father nine years ago.