Tielmann, Jacob (1930-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2001 Dec 21 p. 21

Birth date: 1930 Jul 19

text of obituary:

JACOB TIELMANN

Jacob Tielmann of Winnipeg passed away Aug. 23, He was born July 19,1930 to Jacob and Helena Tielmann in Neu-Halbstadt, Ukraine. In April 1938 his father was forcibly separated from the family. At 11, he accepted Christ. He attended Sunday school and church for the next 2 years. The family fled to Poland. When he turned 13, he was taken to a Hitler Youth Camp, No religious services were allowed, but he fellowshipped secretly with 4-5 other Christian boys. At the end of the war, he felt God told him to go west. His family were sent back to the USSR, and he did not see them for 22 years; he helped his mother come to Canada in 1966, followed by his sister and 2 brothers in the 1970s. He briefly lived in Hamburg with an uncle who became an important spiritual influence for him. In 1947 he was baptized and joined the MB church near Hohenbastel, Germany. In 1949 he immigrated to Winnipeg. He worshipped in North End MB Church, then South End MB Church. He married Martha Harder May 30, 1953. He found work at Independent jewellers. He took correspondence courses from Toronto and the Gemological Institute of America and studied gem identification and diamond appraisals in New York City. He had a way with words and people, desired to make customers happy and found satisfaction in closing the deal. He loved hunting and passed that love on to his sons. He worked hard to provide a secure home, wanting his children to have it easier than he did. He went into business with his cousin Jake Wiebe, acquiring rental properties. He spoke often to his children about his faith, God's faithfulness to him, being a peacemaker, being able to forgive and move past injustices, and working hard. He enjoyed raising vegetables and pigeons. He enjoyed his grandchildren, telling them stories and attending their sports events. Retiring in 1991, he and Martha spent time at the cottage and went to Palm Springs for several months each year. He recovered from surgeries which removed colon cancer in 1993 and most of a benign brain tumour in 1994. He suffered a stroke in July 2001 and another 3 weeks later, and it was learned that cancer had returned. He accepted this and was at peace. He is mourned by Martha; sons Walter and Harry; daughter Karin Friesen; 7 grandchildren; 1 sister and 2 brothers.