JACOB G. BANMAN

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JACOB G. BANMAN August 13, 1918 - February 27, 2011 It is with a deep sense of loss that we, the family, announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Jacob G. (Guenther) Banman at the age of 92 years. After sustaining a fall at his residence at Cedarwood Manor, he was not able to recover from his injuries and passed away peacefully at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, MB on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Jacob was predeceased by Barbara, his wife of 65 years, in May 2008 and his daughter-in-law Marilyn (Peters) in 1985. He is now survived by his eldest son Bob (Joanne), grandson David (Anne), great-grandsons Daniel and Robert, granddaughter Heidi (Randy), great-grandchildren Ella and Nikolas; second son Edward (Jill), grandson Karl, granddaughter Maria (Tyler) Barrel, great-granddaughter Avery and great-grandson Huxley, and granddaughter Christina; third son Gerald (Teresa) and granddaughter Lindsey. Jacob was born on August 13, 1918 in Ignatyevo Colony in the Mennonite Village of Leonidovka #3 in present day Ukraine to his parents Jacob and Anna Banman. He was the eldest of three boys in a family of seven children. Growing up, there were many stories of Dad being a very active boy. He took on the responsibility of doing chores around the home and farm at an early age. Beset by the turmoil, violence and devastation of the Bolshevik Revolution, his family made the decision to immigrate to Canada in pursuit of a better life. Dad was only eight years old at that time. Grandpa Banman obtained the necessary immigration papers for his entire family, pawned what possessions they had remaining and in 1926, obtained passage aboard a ship headed to Canada. They landed in Montreal and then made their way by rail to Manitoba. Large numbers of Mennonites, who had previously settled in Manitoba, were now vacating their farms and moving to Paraguay. This exodus gave the family an opportunity to purchase farmland from the National Trust Company of Canada. The Banman family settled in Landmark, MB. They farmed the land well, but struggled to pay back their Reise Schult or the repayment for the passage to Canada as the National Trust Company took half of all the family produced as payment for the land. This practice was later adjusted, and it gave them a chance to get ahead. Under this renegotiated agreement, the Banmans were able to purchase more land, a tractor to better work the land, and later, a thrashing machine which Dad ran with great efficiency and pride. Dad's grandfather taught him to hunt and trap. This evolved into a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing and a general love of the outdoors. Despite being held back from school to work the farm, Dad had a natural inclination for numbers and was very sharp with figuring out the bottom line'. During the Second World War, as so many young Mennonite men did, Dad served as a Conscientious Objector. He was posted at Clear Lake, MB and assisted in the forestry field. After completing his duty, he went back to doing what he loved to do and he continued farming. One fall he ploughed 300 acres with a single plough share and two horses! Dad was always a driving force, and he pushed to expand the farm and do things more efficiently. Dad and his brother John also found time for fun. The Banman boys were great dancers which made them popular with the girls at local barn dances. Ten cents bought you admission to the dance and a soda for your date. Dad was doing relatively well when he met the popular Miss Barbara Enns of Grunthal, MB at a family wedding. It was there that the flame of love was lit! The couple courted, and after Dad's baptism, the two were married on September 27, 1942. Their honeymoon cottage was a revamped chicken coop on the Banman farm yard! They were just starting out and the newlyweds needed the money. As they were married in the fall at harvest time, Dad spent their honeymoon night hauling sugar beets. In 1944 Dad bought the Greenland Milk Transfer from his brothers-in-law. For eight years, his truck would run every morning at 7:00 a.m. sharp seven days a week. He would load the 100 pound cans of milk by hand, deliver and then unload them at various creameries around Winnipeg. All the while, Dad also kept his trap line, and he proudly made 10 cents for every rabbit fur. Mom and Dad soon started their family with the birth of their son Robert in 1945 followed by Edward in 1949. In 1950, they moved to Steinbach where their third son Gerald was born in 1954. Dad was very proud of his three sons and was known to brag about them on occasion. In 1953, Dad bought land at the corner of Highway 12 and 52 in Steinbach and built Banman's Esso Service and Coffee Bar. In 1956 he became a Volkswagen dealer. He sold gas, tires, automotive services, new and used cars - seven days a week - rain or shine. His sons helped out at the garage part time, with Bob becoming a partner in 1963. Dad instilled a work ethic in all of us and we learned how to do business and speak Low German. He always said to us, If you have nothing to do, you can come and work at the garage . Again, his ability to figure the bottom line, his relentless drive and his business acumen made the business thrive. He always reminded us that if we kept working at that little corner business, it would look after us, and the business did well. Even though Dad worked tirelessly at the business, he never forgot to take time to live life. He was always able to make time to go hunting for coyotes or go fishing. For 76 consecutive years, he never missed the annual western deer hunt. We were very proud of our Dad that he still shot a buck at the age of 91. Our Mom encouraged Dad's hunting and fishing adventures, especially when we boys were old enough to go. It became our Right of Passage, and the excitement and camaraderie we had while hunting with Dad had a profound impact on his sons and grandsons. Dad loved to golf and he was a founding member of the Steinbach Fly-In Golf Course. He also supported his three sons in obtaining their pilots licenses, and at the age of 54, he, too, proudly became a pilot. In 1957, Dad went out on a limb and purchased a cottage lot for $700.00 on the south shore of Falcon Lake and built a family cabin. JACOB G. BANMAN He bought a boat, which he named the “Barbara” to encourage Mom who was nervous about water. They entertained countless numbers of family and friends and went through endless tanks of gas in that boat. Dad always insisted on going on vacations with Mom. They took many trips with family and friends to various parts of the world, with Acapulco being a favourite spot. They also loved California and often visited sons Ed and Bob who live there. The love of farming never left Dad. To see crops or animals grow was in his blood and gave him such joy. He dabbled in land and always enjoyed working on his hobby farms. These farms provided a window on a magical world for his grandchildren. While we loved nothing more than to harvest the bounty of his beautiful garden, his grandchildren were taught how things grew, how to ride a horse, where eggs came from, what butchering chickens was all about, how to drive a tractor and a dirt bike. Dad believed in giving back to his community. He proudly served on the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the Steinbach Credit Union and was awarded a Lifetime Membership in the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. He was a founding member of the Steinbach Grace Mennonite Church and of the Steinbach Fly-In Golf Course and Airport. Together with his son Bob, Dad brought the Datsun (Nissan), Hyundai and Honda dealerships to Steinbach. Dad loved cars - from his canary yellow Ford Galaxy convertible he bought for his boys in 1964, to the series of Cadillacs and Lincolns he drove. In 2006, Dad and Mom moved from their beloved home on Sunrise Bay which they built in 1964, to Woodhaven Manor. Mom’s passing in 2008 meant his constant companion of 65 years was gone. Life was just was not the same without his beloved Barbara. Our father truly lived life to the fullest. He had a keen interest in people’s journeys, and he had a knack for finding out their life stories. He was a great judge of character and an observer of the human condition. He was a pragmatist, but also a man of principal. He loved children and never failed to engage them in play and always treated a child to a chocolate bar. He was not afraid to speak his mind - he was fair-minded - and always generous and supportive of his family. He was not only our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, but he was our friend. As his health began to fail and he needed more assistance, he held to his philosophy - “To receive good care, you must be a good patient”. Dad was dearly loved. He will always be missed and will never be forgotten. The family wishes to thank all those who were involved in Dad’s care - including the staff at Woodhaven Manor in Steinbach, the Vita Hospital, Cedarwood Manor and Steinbach Bethesda Hospital. Your support and many acts of kindness will always be appreciated by our family. Viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at the Birchwood Funeral Home at in Steinbach. The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach. If people so desire, donations may be made in memory of Jacob G. Banman to the Bethesda Foundation, Box 939, Steinbach, MB R5G 1A3 or the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), 134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9. May he now rest in love and peace.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 02, 2011