Jake Spenst

Obituary

Jake Spenst, age 87, of Grunthal, MB, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the St. Pierre Hospital.

He is survived by Mary, his beloved wife of 58 years.

His daughter Carla & Klaus, and her daughter Paula (Josh) and their children Adelynn and Grayson.

His son Jacob & Ang, and their sons Brooks, Kingsley, and Tyrus.

His son David & Tiffany, and their children Nicholas and Morgan.

Dad is also survived by his brother Henry & Ruth Spenst, and sister Helen & Walter Hamm, and their families.

He was predeceased by his parents, Jacob K. & Helen Spenst.

Dad was born in Fleming, SK, the oldest of three children. In his early years, the family moved to Grunthal, MB where he remained for the rest of his life. 203 Park St. became his cherished home from 1960 through the summer of 2025. In the mid–60’s, Dad came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting that his sins had been dealt with at the cross. He married Mary in 1967 and together they raised their children. Dad was the consummate provider; his family benefitted greatly from his years and long hours of hard work. It was commonplace, after supper, for Dad to continue working into the evening.

Dad loved times spent together with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; the little ones were the apple of his eye. He was a quiet man with a gentle spirit.

Dad’s servant heart put him into contact with many people; this brought him great delight. For many decades, he served faithfully in the church whether ushering or groundskeeping. For 27 years, when the siren would sound or his pager go off, Dad would drop everything to join the call of duty with the Grunthal Volunteer Fire Department. In his retirement, he helped at the community MCC.

As a young man, Dad drove trucks for Grunthal Transfer. His tales of driving around Winnipeg displayed the enjoyment the job brought. After trucking he became a mechanic and loyal employee at Chornoboy Farm Equipment, remaining there for the next 38 years.

Being a small – town mechanic, Dad was often sought out for his skills by people in need of repairs of all sorts. From bicycles to vehicles to farm machinery to donated items at the MCC to more bicycles, Dad was able to fix virtually anything.

When his children had grown, Dad returned to his love of horses, spending many hours training and working with his team. The wagon he built saw many trail rides with the Southeast Manitoba Draft Horse Association. He loved giving people rides.

In his final years even as his health declined, Dad remained fiercely optimistic that his strength would return. He so enjoyed life, that he often would be found sitting in the garage with the overhead door open, waving at community members or welcoming a visit from anyone passing by.

The family would like to express our deep appreciation for the nursing homecare and homecare provided at Greendale Estates. Also, a heartfelt thank you to the nursing staff, health care aids, and Dr. Plett and Dr. Nissan at the St. Pierre Hospital.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

A private family interment will take place at the Grunthal Cemetery.