Obituary of Jacob Hiebert

Jacob Hiebert was born on November 15, 1919 at home in the village of Reinfeld near Winkler, Manitoba. He was the third child of Jacob (1891-1955) and Maria (nee Klassen) (1893-1973) Hiebert. Dad had seven siblings: Mary, Frank, Abe, Dave, Pete, and the twins Susan and Annie. At school Dad was quite good at spelling, but never wanted to win a spelling bee due to his shyness. His favorite teachers were Anne Enns and Mr. Adrian, who also taught Sunday School and preached in neighboring villages. Christmas Eve concerts were enjoyed at school. Dad quit school in Grade 6 to go to work to help out the family. He had mostly seasonal work with row crop labor – very little pay, less than $1 per day. When he left home, Dad worked for the Derksens for about 7 years on their farm. He was treated very well by Mrs. Derksen and enjoyed working for and with this family. Dad made a commitment to the Lord as a young man and was baptized in the Mennonite church. Dad met his future wife, Agatha Rempel during a trip west that his brother Frank and he made looking for work during the war years. Mom was only about 14 at the time. Later, Dad came to visit his brother Frank who had married Mom’s sister Katherine and a courtship ensued. He married Agatha on April 17, 1949. Dad has mentioned that Mom’s long thick hair was a “head turner”. He remembers walking down the street and people turning to look at her. He obviously was very proud of his wife. Our Dad loved our Mom. During their first years of marriage, they moved quite frequently. Dad worked for a farmer in Estevan, then moved to work in the coal mines in Drumheller, Alberta. Judi, Bill, Shirley and Carolyn were born there. In 1956, they moved to the Rempel homestead in Rosenhof where they farmed. Dad has said that the years spent farming were some of his fondest memories. Jim and Colette were born during this time. Dad will be remembered for his strong work ethic, for his quick wit and sense of humor and for his desire to provide well for his family and see them, in turn, do well in their lives. He leaves to mourn his wife of 60 years, Agatha; his children, Judi (Henri) Levesque, Bill (Eunice) Hiebert, Shirley (Don) Gillett, Carolyn (Roger) Neufeld, Jim (Lorna) Hiebert, Colette (Loren) Regier; 19 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; his brothers Dave (Hilda) Hiebert and Peter (Maureen) Hiebert; his sister Annie (Jack) Driedger; his sister-in-law Katie (Frank) Hiebert, brother-in-law John (Susan) Thiessen; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers Frank Hiebert and Abe (Eva, also deceased) Hiebert and his sisters Mary (Peter also deceased) Pauls and Susan Thiessen.