JACOB E. (JAKE) KROEKER

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JACOB E. (JAKE) KROEKER Passed away peacefully on September 16th at St. Boniface Hospital. He was born on April 27, 1912 to Jacob A. and Annie Kroeker in Winkler, MB, where he received both his elementary and high school education, after which he attended the Winkler Bible Institute and Success Business College in Winnipeg. In 1935, during the Great Depression, he married Alice Nuernberg from McClusky, North Dakota, making their home in Winkler. God granted them four children: Kenneth, who died at birth, Gloria, Harold, Clarence. Harold died at the age of 41 of cancer. In 1978 his wife Alice died, after a lengthy battle with cancer. In 1981 he married Anne Schritt of Winkler and this brought another four adult children with spouses and children into the new combined family. God blessed their union and gave them many happy years together. In 1991 they sold their home in Winkler and moved to Winnipeg, and transferred their church membership to Portage Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church. Dad started out in the business world at a very young age. First as a clerk in a small town General Store, then as secretary/bookkeeper in a Real Estate and Insurance business, owned by his father. Later he became manager of The Farmers Oil Co. selling bulk gas and oil, as well as a full line of John Deere farm tractors and equipment. But his real interest at that time was with General Motors line of cars, especially the Chevrolet. Soon after his fathers death, Dad and his brother Menno, bought the car dealership and successfully carried on the partnership under the name of Kroeker Brothers for nearly 20 years. In 1965, Dad opened up a Real Estate office in Winkler and specialized in farm sales until his retirement in 1978. At this time he bought a small hobby horse farm near Winkler, and kept a number of Standard breds and Quarter horses for both saddle and harness use. He taught some of his grandchildren to ride and join the 4-H Clubs to take part in various horse competitions and parades in towns across Southern Manitoba. During his younger years, Dad was active in church, such as teaching Sunday School classes for 20 years, serving on the board of trustees, and singing in the choir. He also served as a trustee on the Winkler Public School Board for nine years, and was an active member of the Winkler Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was predeceased by his parents, Jacob A. & Annie Kroeker, his wife Alice, son Kenneth, son Harold, granddaughter Christie, two brothers, Peter and Menno, two sisters, Lena and Annie. He is lovingly remembered by his wife Anne and by his family: Gloria (Don) Dyck, Clarence (Barbara) Kroeker, daughter-in-law Nancy Kroeker; four step-children, Allen (Dorothy) Schritt, Edna (Norm) Jagger, Stan (Sue) Schritt, John (Shirley) Schritt; eight grandchildren, Donna McLeod, Geoff (Theresa) Dyck, Timothy (Barbara) Dyck, Jonathon (Tammy) Dyck, Zo Kroeker, Tessa Kroeker, Emma Kroeker, Rebecca Wiebe; five step-grandchildren, Brenda Schritt, Darryl Schritt, Melissa Jagger, Heather Jagger, Michelle (Craig) Shattuck and 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, one brother Bert (Anita), two sisters, Esther Unruh and Luella (Ted) Loney, one brother-in-law George Pries, one sister-in-law Betty Kroeker, and other relatives and friends. Thanks to Dr. Shah and all the caring staff in Emergency and Intensive care at St. Boniface Hospital. Funeral service will be held on Friday, September 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Portage Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church, 1420 Portage Ave. Viewing at the church prior to the service. A private family interment will take place in Winkler Cemetery. If friends desire, donations may be made to Mennonite Central Committee or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba. Arrangements entrusted to Klassen Funeral Chapel, 338-0331.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 19, 2001