Jantzen, Jacob J. (1916-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Oct 4, p. 26

Birth date: 1916 Oct 31

text of obituary:

JACOB (JAKE) J. JANTZEN

Jacob (Jake) J. Jantzen passed away July 8. He was born Oct. 31, 1916 to John J. and Helen Jantzen in western Siberia. In 1925 the family immigrated to a farm in Gruenthal, Man. Because his father was older, a teacher and unfamiliar with farming, Jake, from age 10, took the main responsibility for running the farm, using horses and old machinery. He attended school only in winter. In 1937 the family moved to Yarrow, B.C. He accepted Christ's salvation at a New Year's Eve service and was baptized in 1939, joining Yarrow MB Church. He married Sara Neufeldt Nov. 8, 1942. He owned a fruit packing plant, a hardware store and later a lumber yard. He moved to Vancouver in 1953 and began building houses in the suburbs and highrises in downtown; he engaged in land development. He was a devoted worker in Fraserview MB Church and served on several B.C. and Canadian MB Conference boards. He and Sara moved to South Surrey, B.C. in 1992. A stroke in December 1994 forced him into retirement. Predeceased by 3 sisters and 1 brother, he is mourned by Sara; sons Ed and Al; daughters Dorothy, Linda Klassen and Evelyn Block; 12 grandchildren; 4 great-grandsons; and 2 sisters. The funeral was July 15 in VaJJey View Memorial Gardens, Surrey, B.C., with Dan Unrau , Ralph Klassen and Loyal Funk ministering .