Jacob Plett
Obituary
Jacob E. G. Plett age 78 of Steinbach, MB (formerly of Mitchell and Blumenort) passed away peacefully on July 20, 2017 at Bethesda Place, with his family at his side.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Eva; their daughter, Pamela (Oscar) Reimer and their children Zachary, Benjamin, Lillian, and Melina; their four sons, Andy Plett; Lionel (Alfreda) Plett; Myron (Heather) Plett and their children Owen and Makayla; Cameron (Pam) Plett and their children Sawyer, Logan and Dillon; and son-in-law, Peter (Tammy) Martens, and Peter and Gwen’s children and grandchildren; Dale (Alicia) Martens and their children Gabriel, Aurora, Thatcher, and Nathaniel; Dustin (Amy) Martens and their children Hannah and Winston; Danielle; Daphne; Dauna-Lee; Keisha; and Clark.
He is also survived by five sisters; Minna (Jac) Friesen; Esther (Irvin) Plett; Emmeline (John) Poettcker; Eleanor (Henry) Epp; Diane (Levi) Reimer and three brothers; Frank (Martha) Plett; Dave (Betty) Plett; Joe (Annie) Plett.
He is predeceased by their daughter Gwen (Peter) Martens and son Wallace Plett.
He is also predeceased by his parents; Margaret & Jacob D. K. Plett; one sister Linda; and three brothers-in-law; Irvin Plett, Jac Friesen & Levi Reimer; and three siblings at a very young age.
Jacob was born a twin on March 31, 1939 at home in Blumenhof in the RM of Hanover. He was baptized as a young man in the Blumenort EMC. Jacob married Eva Brandt on September 28, 1963 and she has remained faithfully by his side until his passing.
He grew up on the family farm and then later farmed hogs and grain on the same farmstead until 1987 when he sold the farm due to health reasons. Dad was mostly self-employed throughout his life, although worked some road construction jobs before and after selling the farm. He also worked briefly in car sales, furniture delivery and was a mail carrier during the Canada Post strike in the 80’s. Jac became involved with exporting agricultural equipment and various other items while still on the farm. Exporting became his main self-employment after the farm sold until his second stroke 8 1/2 years ago. Jac and Eva also spent the summers of ’98 and ’99 working at fishing lodges.
The family moved to Mitchell after selling the farm, however retained a portion of the farm acreage near Blumenhof which he continued to reference as “the farm”. Dad used the acreage as his base for collecting and loading equipment for export and collecting antique tractors. Jac and Eva moved to Steinbach in 2004 after his first stroke.
Jac loved attending auction sales because of his interest in antiques and to purchase items for exporting. Dad spent many evenings searching for hard to find items in various newspapers. He would often “attend” multiple auctions on the same day utilizing his family and friends to bid for him. Jac loved collecting antiques and at one time owned around 75 John Deere tractors. He enjoyed fishing and used to go often in his earlier years. Dad went to Paraguay for a few months at a time to unload shipping containers. This was both his business and hobby; he went approximately 30 times in total. The family also took some vacations and rented a motor home on a few occasions for road trips. Jac loved meeting new people and connecting with relatives and friends. A phrase he lived by was, “a stranger is just a friend I haven’t met before”. Jac and Eva’s hospitality was evident as they worked tirelessly to help South American immigrants long before there was an immigration office in Steinbach.
Dad overcame numerous physical injuries on the farm and while packing containers. He experienced his first stroke in March 2004 en route to Paraguay, spending 10 days in a New York hospital before being transferred to Steinbach. Jac was always busy and on the go; the stroke put a very sudden halt to all the things he kept busy with, which was very difficult for him to accept. After partially recovering, he continued to stay somewhat active although at a much slower pace. His second stroke in January 2009 left him further disabled and relegated to a wheel chair. He moved to Bethesda Personal Care Home because it was too difficult for him to live at home. This transition was very difficult for Jac who had always been on the go and missed living at his residence.
Viewing will be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., with a devotional to follow at 7:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Home. Viewing will also be at the church prior to the service.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Blumenort EMC, with burial to follow at Blumenort Cemetery.
If friends desire, donations in memory of Jacob may be made to Samaritan’s Purse Canada, 20 Hopewell Way NE, Calgary, Alberta, T3J 5H5.
Special thanks to all those that have visited Jac in the last years, and the staff at Bethesda Place. Eva and the family has greatly appreciated all the love and prayers expressed.
