Jacob J. Unger

In Loving Memory of
Jacob J. Unger
age 97
Jake was predeceased by his wife Anne, 
son-in-law Ed Brannan and granddaughter Tina.
He is lovingly remembered by his children 
John (Trudy) Unger, Lorraine Brannan, 
Anita (Reg) Dyck, Ellen (Ben) Martens, 
Karen (Les) Oddan as well as their families.

Died 
April 9, 2023
Westview Lodge PCH
Boissevain, Manitoba

Funeral Service
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Whitewater Mennonite Church
Boissevain, Manitoba
2:00 p.m.

Private Interment - Boissevain Cemetery

Donations in memory of Jake may be made to the 
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) 
134 Plaza Dr., Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9 or the
Canadian Foodgrains Bank 
PO Box 767, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2L4 

Dad was born to Jacob and Susanna Unger on November 17th, 1925, in the beautiful village of Gregorjewka, Ukraine. In August, 1926, Dad, his older sister Susan, and his parents immigrated to Canada. They eventually made their way to Whitewater, Manitoba where they bought a farm, where Dad was raised, and then raised a family of his own.
Dad and Mom (Anne Klassen) were married in Abbotsford, BC in June, 1953 and in 1954 they bought the farm, in the Winchester Municipality, from Dad’s parents.
Grandpa Unger told Dad that the scenic farm was a good place to grow kids and crops. So that is what Dad and Mom did. John, Lorraine, Anita, Ellen and Karen were raised on the farm and enjoy the spring crocuses on the south facing hills to this day.
“We children would never tire from all our creative activity, like playing ball, hide and seek, catching gophers, taking out sparrow eggs, playing in the hay loft, swinging on the double swings. My brothers and I always carried sling shots to shoot gophers and bad birds.” (quote from Dad’s memoirs)
Dad’s sense of play continued as he often joined us in games of baseball, volleyball and jaunts to Lake Max for an evening dip after haying. These were treasured times as the work on a mixed farm was never done.
Dad received his early education at Mountainside School and often talked about the patience and kindness of the teachers who showed compassion to him and his siblings who knew no English.
Dad was baptized into the Whitewater Mennonite Church in his teens. This began a lifelong commitment of worship, service and fellowship. 
Dad and Mom retired to Boissevain in 1985. Dad’s retirement included fishing, hunting, trapping, small group Bible Studies, games night, reading, and trips with Mom to California, Alaska, and the East Coast. 
When Mom died in April, 2008, Dad moved from the house they had shared, to a duplex down the street, and then eventually, to Westview PCH where he died on Easter morning, April 9, 2023. We will always be grateful for the care Dad received from Dr. Nell and all of the staff at Westview. 
Dad was predeceased by his wife Anne Unger (2008), son-in-law Ed Brannan (2005), and granddaughter Tina Unger (1993).
Dad is survived by his children John and Trudy Unger, Lorraine Brannan, Anita and Reg Dyck, Ellen and Ben Martens, Karen and Les Oddan; and grandchildren Troy and Crystal Imbery, Jolene and Gregg Thiessen, Stacey and Dan Waldron, Allison and Darrell Jones, Brendan Dyck and Kelli Heinrich, Jessica and Denny Nestibo, Heidi Martens and Joel Coursey, Clarice Martens and Simon Dueck, Jill and Mark Tripp, Dylan Oddan, Kaitlyn and David Peters, and their families. Dad is also survived by his sister Sara Stoesz and many nieces and nephews on the Unger and Klassen sides of the family.

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