JAKE ZACHARIAS

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JAKE ZACHARIAS Following a lengthy battle with heart disease, fought with determination and a strong spirit, Jake Zacharias, aged 88, went to be with his Lord and Saviour on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Portage District General Hospital. He is survived by his loving wife, Anne, with whom he shared eight precious years. He is also survived by his eight children: Jessie of Brandon, Betty Anne Kilbrei (Ken) of Winnipeg, Jack (Toni) of Winnipeg, Ruth (Paul) of Kamloops, Shirley MacEachern (Glenn) of Whitby, ON, Edward (Susanne) of Dallas, TX, Joan of Brandon, Gladys Barbour (John) of Brandon. Jake had 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by an infant son. He is also survived by Anne's four children and their families. Jake was born on December 22, 1919 in Aberdeen, SK, the eldest of six siblings, and is survived by three sisters: Margaret Dyck of Brandon, Anne Doell (Jake) of Gladstone and Trudy Loewen (Jake) of Armstrong, BC. He moved to Manitoba in 1939 where he married Elizabeth (nee Buhler) in June, 1940. They celebrated 59 years of marriage before Beth's passing in 1999. Together they farmed in the Pine Creek District for 17 years. In 1956 they moved to Brandon where Jake pursued a career in the lumber industry starting with North American Lumber and ending with Brandon Co-op Lumber at his retirement. He was also transferred for a short time to Drumheller, AB and Altona, MB. Jake's natural affinity for estimating building costs accurately was extraordinary. Jake was always very communityminded. He volunteered tirelessly on many boards, including Gillespie School, COR Enterprises, McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church, Parkview Co-op, and was instrumental in starting Seniors for Seniors in Brandon. Jake and Beth were honoured and recognized for their long-term commitments and selfless service to several organizations. They were life-long members of McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church where they served in many capacities, including Jake's chairing of the Building Committee. They were active volunteers for the MS Society. Jake enjoyed many sports, both as a very competitive participant, and as a spectator. As a teenager, he played baseball during the Depression years when work was scarce. He received an invitation in 1938 from the Boston Red Sox to attend their training camp, but his Mom declined that offer and returned the train tickets lest she lose her son to a distant city. He enjoyed curling, golf, baseball, Saturday night hockey, hunting and participated in Manitoba Senior Games. In 2000 he remarried and moved to Austin, MB where he resided at the time of his passing. Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. at MacGregor E.M. Church in MacGregor with Rev. Bill McCaskill officiating. Interment will follow at the Austin Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at Clarke's Funeral Chapel, MacGregor. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the MS Society, Westman Chapter, Unit 203 Shopper's Mall, 1570 - 18th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 5C5. Clarke's Funeral Home, MacGregor, in care of arrangements. www.clarkesfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 09, 2008