JAKOB LETKEMANN

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JAKOB LETKEMANN July 17, 1927 June 2, 2011 On June 2, 2011, at St. Boniface Hospital, Jakob Letkemann, age 83, passed away quietly with family by his side. He is survived by his wife Tina of 57 years, his children David and Susan Letkemann, Kathy and Alf Redekopp, Tim and Kate Letkemann, Ted and Joy Letkemann and Helen Kasdorf; grandchildren Elizabeth Redekopp and Matthew Wiens, Andrew and Candice Redekopp, Christina Redekopp, Jennifer and Kyla Letkemann, Avery and Regan Letkemann, Spencer, Levi and Cassidy Kasdorf; and great-grandchildren Alina and Jacoby Wiens and Kayleigh Redekopp. Also surviving him are a sister Helen Letkeman, sisters- and brothers-in-law Margaret Letkeman, Lynn and Abe Voth, Trudy and Jake Heinrichs, Helen and Ralph Thorpe, Margaret Loewen and Susie Loewen, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by son-in-law, Arnie Kasdorf (2009), sister Tina Letkeman (2000) and brothers Henry Letkeman (1968) and Frank Letkeman (2006). Jake grew up in the Roseisle-Graysville area of Manitoba. Throughout his adult life he was an educator and an activist for social justice. He was a teacher at Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna, and later at St. John's High School, Winnipeg. He served as a lay minister in Gretna, executive secretary of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada and executive director of Mennonite Central Committee (Manitoba) and worked in Jamaica for three years with MCC. Besides fulfilling his official roles, he spent many hours volunteering throughout his forty years at Home Street Mennonite Church, as well as engaging in community-related activities at an MCC Thrift Store, and visiting and assisting refugees, new Canadians and former prison inmates. He enjoyed many activities with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and stayed active participating in sports. A special thanks to the St. Boniface Palliative Care staff for their compassionate care. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mennonite CentralCommittee (Manitoba), 134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5K9. Arrangements entrusted to: KLASSEN FUNERAL HOME 1897 Henderson Hwy. 338-0331 Send expressions of sympathy at www.mem.com.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 04, 2011