JACOB D. FRIESEN

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JACOB D. FRIESEN

Jacob D. Friesen (Jake), age 88, of Steinbach, Manitoba, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, with his wife Elizabeth by his side. Until recently he was cared for by his wife at home while he battled Lewy Body Dementia/Parkinson's.

Jacob was born on May 25, 1937, in the RM of Hanover. He attended school until Grade 5 after which he helped his father on the mixed family farm.

Jacob married Elizabeth Enns on October 2, 1960. After working at Barkman Concrete for a number of years, they purchased his parents farm in 1968. This was the start of 32 years of hog farming. Jacob also started driving school bus in 1968 and retired from that after 40 years. Additionally, he took the role of caretaker and gravedigger for the Rosengard CMC Cemetery from 1983 to 2013, where he was also a member. This congregation was their home church where Jacob's faith grew while serving. Jacob and Elizabeth ran the Youth group for many years cultivating long relationships still withstanding to this day. Their devotion to the Youth Group was a great example to our family. Church was a very important part of Jacob’s life, but more so, was his great desire that his family knew Christ and lived for the Lord.

Without any formal training, Jacob had great carpentry skills. He built their first home in 1963 followed by projects like barns, cabins, a machine shed, their local church and renovating homes. His knowledge of wiring came from his father-in-law and plumbing from his brothers. He was very active in helping his children with all their projects well into his 80s.

Jacob was passionate about hunting as a sport, but also to provide food for the family. He mastered the technique of smoking farmer sausage and curing hams. A craft that he diligently mentored and passed down to his children and grandchildren.

Jacob is survived by Elizabeth, his beloved wife of 64 years; children: Darrel (Joanne), Marcia Schur, (daughter-in-law Gisele), Melanie (Gordon) Collard, Chris (Jacklyn); his grandchildren: Tiffany and Alexandra (Michael Wentland), Rebecca and Sarah (fiancé Caleb Cantelon), Brittany, Ashley (David Auger), Cherie, Courtney and Eric (fiancé Etana Carrière), Kristin, Julia (Daniel Rempel); as well as great-grandchildren: Jonas, Felix and Henry, Jeremiah, Micaiah and Eleanna, Rylee, Emmett.

He was predeceased by his parents, Peter T. and Elisabeth Friesen, three brothers, three sisters, sons, Dewayne (in infancy), Russell and grandson Jarid.

The funeral service was held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB with interment at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Union Gospel Mission, an organization important to Jacob.

As published in The Carillon on Aug 21, 2025