Jacob Baerg

Obituary

Jake passed away peacefully at his home in the Bethania Personnel Care Home on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Left to cherish his memories are his children: Victor (Ellen) and Erica; grandchildren: Colleen (Marco), Derek, (Hoa), Patrick (Katelyn) and Victoria; great- grandchildren: Milan, Anson, Lilia and Tehya. His loving wife Tina, passed away on January 3rd, 2014.

Jake was born in Neu Schonsee, Russia. When Jake was 15, the Baerg family finally escaped from Russia and fled to Poland, when the German army broke down the borders during WW2. In 1945 Jake and his best friend John Schroeder found their way to Bilstate, Germany and reconnected with the rest of the Baerg family. In Germany, the family worked in the farm fields until 1948 when the family immigrated to Coaldale, Alberta, Canada, and again the family worked in the sugar beet farm fields. In 1949, while in Coaldale, Jake met his wife Tina Peters and were married in 1952. In 1955 Jake and Tina had a son, Victor, and then later that year they moved to Winnipeg Manitoba. In 1957, they had a daughter, Erica. When the family settled in Winnipeg, Jake started to build houses, together with his brother-in-law Jake Letkamann. In the early 1960s, Jake built himself a small 9 suite apartment block, named Lady Erica, in North Kildonan. Jake worked his whole life constructing and maintaining buildings. Although he only had 3 years of education, his amazing skills allowed him to build and fix absolutely everything, whether it was carpentry, plumbing, locks etc. In 1973, Jake decided to purchase a cabin at Big Whiteshell Lake. This great decision allowed the family to enjoy many years together and to this day 44 years later, his legacy still remains intact. Jake has spent 44 straight years celebrating Father’s Day together at the cabin with his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Jake never stopped working at the cabin, except for short breaks to either eat or drink Crown Royal and Pepsi. Other than work his favourite activity was playing cards. He loved work so much that even after 3 different retirement parties he never truly stopped working, until 2009, when he had his first stroke, at the age of 82 years old. Jake was married to Tina for 62 years, until she passed in 2014.

He will always be remembered and missed.

We would like to thank all the people from homecare, and the staff at Bethania PCH that helped Jake survive his last 8 years, after his stroke.

The memorial service will be held on Monday, August 21 at 1:00 p.m. at the North Kildonan Mennonite Church, 1131 Roch St., Winnipeg, MB. A private viewing and interment will be held for the family before the funeral.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Jake may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, 134 Plaza Dr. Wpg, R3T 5K9.