Siemens, Jacob Dietrich (1906-1980)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 Mar 14 p. 32

Birth date: 1906 Apr 12

text of obituary:

JACOB DIETRICH SIEMENS

After a lengthy illness, Jacob D. Siemens of Coaldale, Alta., went to be with the Lord on February 4. He was born to Dietrich and Anna (Martens) Siemens on April 12, 1906 in Ladekop, southern Russia. As a youth he attended elementary school in Petershagen and high school in Halbstadt. When he was 18 the family emigrated to Canada, arriving at Quebec City on July 18, 1924, and settling in Kitchener a few days later. The following year the family moved to Arnaud, Man., where young .Jacob accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. He was later baptized by J.P. Klassen and joined the Mennonite Brethren church. In 1929 the family moved to Coaldale. Jacob took three years in the Bible school at Coaldale and through various influences developed a desire to become a missionary to India. He did well in Bible school and continued his studies at Prairie Bible Institute. He then went on to teach at Bible schools in Didsbury, Alta., Swift Current, Sask., and Coglin, B.C. On March 7, 1943 he married Kate Goerz of Vancouver and two weeks later was ordained as a selfsupported minister of the Mennonite Brethren church. After four years in B.C., the family returned to a farm near Coaldale and have lived there since. For about twenty years he served the Coaldale Conference Mennonite Church as a lay minister. He farmed and worked as carpenter to supplement farm income. On April 20, 1973, he and his wife joined the Coaldale MB Church, where they continued to enjoy the fellowship and ministry of the congregation up to the present. In addition to his wife Kate, he is survived by nine children, Len and Twianne Siemens, Claresholm, Alta.; Linda and Nick Hayes, Bill and Dorothy Siemens, and John, all of Coaldale; Helen and Margaret of Calgary; Alma Kathleen and David of Edmonton; and Anita of Fort McMurray; as well as seven grandchildren and many friends and relatives. The funeral was conducted from the Coaldale MB church on February 8 with Rudy Heidebrecht and H.H. Dyck ministering.