Jacob Braun

Jacob Braun Jr, age 84, passed on to his heavenly home and into the arms of his Lord and Saviour on Monday, June 27, 2016 at The Meadows Long Term Care Facility in Swift Current, SK. He was born on July 17, 1931 to Jacob Sr. & Katharina Braun (Janzen), the first of eight children, on the family homestead just south of Swift Current. He attended Amphion School and several years later the Technical School in Saskatoon for heavy duty mechanic, going on to attain his journeyman papers in Moose Jaw. Jacob started working at a very young age to help support his parents and help the family survive the depression years. His first job was at the airport where he worked on the grounds maintaining the runways and supporting the servicemen training there — he was paid a penny for every gopher tail. His next job as a young boy was on a wooden bridge construction crew where he held spikes for the men building bridges on all the gravel roads in the surrounding area — he was paid 10 cents a day. He went on to work for many local farmers and threshing crews, which led to him meeting a great cook and the love of his life — Irene Wiebe — whom he married on Sunday, October 23, 1955. Jacob worked on the garbage crew for the city of Swift Current until he finished his mechanic course getting a job at Great West Ford which later became Wilton Motors. He then moved on to working on tractors and machinery at John Deere, where he retired in 1989. Jacob was baptized at the Sommerfeld Church in 1955, and he had many favorite Bible verses. Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” He started every day with prayer, the Daily Bread devotions, and Bible reading at the breakfast table. The Church and the Lord were very important to Jacob & Irene. Jacob enjoyed doing volunteer work for the MCC and especially enjoyed the relief auctions. He also volunteered for the Mennonite Disaster Service and this took him and Irene on many trips travelling through all the southern states down to Florida. He devoted many hours helping with ushering and cleaning in the church where they attended. Jacob loved to drive and took his family on many trips to visit relatives, gathering family history and pictures. Jacob & Irene drove to Alaska and also took two tours to Churchill to see the polar bears. He loved to look at old vehicles and machinery, he especially enjoyed attending threshing bees. Jacob is survived by his loving wife, Irene; his two daughters: Marilyn (Warren) Rya, and Junene (Edgar) Peters; his grandchildren: Mark & Dallas Peters, Kris Peters, Cory Rya, and Michael Rya; his brothers: George Braun, Willie & Diane Braun, Johnny & Rosella Braun, Henry & Sheila Braun; and by his sister, Emma. Jacob was predeceased by his daughter, Julene Braun, in 1956; a stillborn son in 1957, and a son, Walter, in 1959; his parents, Jacob Braun Sr. in 1981 and Katharina Braun in 1990; his brother, Peter Braun, in 1936; and by his sister, Elizabeth Teichroeb, in 2014. The family wishes to thank House 11 at The Meadows and Swift Current Funeral Home for their excellent care.

The Funeral Service was held on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 2:00 pm from the Zion Mennonite Church, Swift Current, SK with John Kehler officiating. Special music was provided by Notes of Praise. Tributes were shared by Junene Peters and Mark Peters with Willie Braun reading the obituary. The ushers in the church were Edgar Peters, Mark Peters and Kris Peters. The Interment Service proceeded the Funeral Service and was held at the Hillcrest Cemetery, Swift Current, SK with the following serving as pallbearers, Edgar Peters, Warren Rya, Mark Peters, Kris Peters, Cory Rya and Michael Rya. In memory of Jacob Braun, donations made to the Mennonite Central Committee would be appreciated by the family. 

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