Martens, Jacob (1880-1974)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 Jan 10 p. 28

Birth date: 1880 Oct 22

text of obituary:

JACOB MARTENS

Jaocb Martens was born October 22, 1880 in Southern Russia to Jacob and Helena Martens (nee Schellenberg), the oldest of three children. He grew up in his home village and at age 20 was baptized and received into the church, although he had not yet experienced conversion.

In 1910 he met Anna Hildebrand and shortly thereafter they were married. It was a happy marriage which brought much joy into his life.

Jacob was a miller and soon after his marriage brought a neglected flour mill into full production again. After one year he was asked to take the position of a steward at a large estate, work he very much enjoyed. At the outbreak of World War I he was mobilized and served in the medical corp until the collapse of the Russian armed forces and the subsequent revolution in 1917.

During these perilous times he stood before a firing squad more than once, and also lost his parents and other family members of typhoid fever in 1919. He and his wife fled to the village of Hochfeld . Here they both turned to the Lord and found salvation, and were baptized and received into the Mennonite Brethren Church.

After these difficult experiences in Russia, it was their fondest wish to come to Canada. In 1923 they arrived in Herbert, Sask. They farmed there and later retired in the town of Herbert. Then they moved to Niverville, Man., where Mrs. Martens died in 1955.

Later Jacob found in Elizabeth Peters his second wife. The Lord gave them over seventeen years of quiet contentment and happiness. After some time, since his health deteriorated, they moved to the Rest Haven Nursing Home in Steinbach, where they were lovingly cared for. Recently he was hospitalized, and there God called him home.

He leaves to mourn his aged wife; three children: Susie and Herman Heinrichs of Niverville. Mary and Henry Rempel and Jake and Eva Martens, all of Saskatchewan; 23 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and three sisters-in-law. Two daughters and one son-in-law predeceased him. On Mrs. Marten's side there are two daughters and five sons with their families who loved and honored him and were loved by him.