JACOB BRAUN KLASSEN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JACOB BRAUN KLASSEN Jacob Braun Klassen passed away peacefully into the presence of his Saviour on Tuesday, August 7, 2012. Jacob known as Jack was born March 27, 1921 in the village of Schonberg, Ukraine, and moved with his parents and two siblings to Canada in 1925 and a few years later purchased a farm at Niverville, Manitoba. Jack attended public school at Carmichal, SD nearby. As a teenager Jack developed a keen interest in mechanics while helping his father repair their Fordson tractor and any other equipment that needed to be repaired. During the war years Jack worked on the Alaska Highway near Prince Rupert, BC and then secured a mechanics position at Monarch Machinery and later spent 20 years at Pritchard Engineering furthering his mechanical skills. With the skills he had accomplished, Jack and his co-worker Frank Mystery at Prichard felt they needed to branch out and formed their own business. So one morning at Jack's kitchen table they drew up the plan and called it Dynamic Machine Corp. It became a very successful venture into which Jack dedicated himself until his retirement. In the mid 1940s Jack met an attractive girl Lee Braschuck who won his heart by serving him ice cream at Eaton's basement Parlor. They married on July 24, 1948 and had two children: Larry and Marlene. As the children grew older Jack and her purchased a cabin on Caddy Lake, ON, where they enjoyed many memorable weekends boating and water skiing. Suddenly on March 24, 1991 Lee passed away. A couple years later Jack met Ann Petriw and they were married in February 1994 and spent 18 years together. Until Jack and Ann's health broke down and he had to be admitted to a care facility. She has been a very faithful partner. Jack was predeceased by his first wife Lee and his beloved daughter Marlene Mages; two brothers Frank and Rudy and three brothers-in-law, Mervin, Tony and Irewine. He is survived by one brother and six sisters, one son Larry (Wilma) and son-in-law Tom Mages, his wife Ann and her children; grandchildren: Dale Klassen, Jamie (Dorie) Klassen, Cindy (Jimmy) Jimenez, Tammy (Mike) Zakowich, Ricky (Shelly) Mages, Jessica (Chris) Stenson; two step-grandchildren Tracy and Ashley and nine great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews and special friend to dad Donna Klassen. Special thanks to all the staff of St. Joseph's Nursing Home and Bethania Nursing Home, your kindness and help has been so appreciated over the past five and one half years. Public Viewing will be held on Friday, August 10, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Glen Eden Funeral Home, 4477 Main Street. Funeral Service to be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Glen Eden Funeral Home, following the burial a lunch will be served. Pallbearers will be Jamie Klassen, Dale Klassen, Rick Mages, Cody Mages, Mike Zakowich and Chris Stenson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children's Wish Foundation. Glen Eden Funeral Home 338-7111 www.gleneden-mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2012