Brucks, Jacob (1916-2004)
Jacob Brucks: farmer and hospital administrator; born 18 June 1916 in Kamenetz, Neu Samara Mennonite Settlement, Russia to Jacob H. Brucks and Margarita (Hamm) Brucks, the second of three children (see additional information for further details regarding Jacob's famly). Jacob married Mary Hildebrand on 2 February 1940. They had one son, Richard, and one daughter, Laura. Jacob died on 9 September 2004 in Vernon, British Columbia (BC), Canada.
In 1922 the Brucks family moved from Russia to Germany. A year later they immigrated to Canada, arriving in Quebec, where they lived for a short time. From Quebec, the family moved to several communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Eventually they settled in Gem, Alberta. In 1936 the family resettled in Black Creek, Vancouver Island. In 1937 Jacob was baptized and became a member of the Black Creek United Mennonite Church. It was here that Jacob married Mary Hildebrand.
In 1943 the Jacob Brucks family moved to the Fraser Valley, settling on a farm in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Here he became active in the East Chilliwack Mennonite Church (now Eden Mennonite Church). In 1954 he became a member of the Mennonite Benevolent Society and a year later became a director on the Board of this Society. To devote more time for involvement with the society, he sold his farm in 1961 and moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The same year he was appointed manager of the Menno Private Hospital and served in this capacity until 1977. To adequately discharge these new responsibilities, Jacob continued his studies, earning a Certificate in Hospital Administration from the University of Manitoba. Jacob’s tenure as manager marked a time of rapid development. Several buildings and a chapel were added. The hospital became a provincially funded extended care facility. Jacob had a heart for elderly people and spent countless hours attending to the needs of Menno Hospital residents.
Throughout his adult life Brucks served the church in a variety of ways. At the Eden Mennonite Church he was elected Sunday School Superintendent. In the Clearbrook Mennonite Church he served as treasurer. He also served on the Finance Committee of the Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia and served at the Gospel Mission in Vancouver.
Jacob and his wife Mary enjoyed traveling and managed to tour most of the states in the USA. After Jacob retired, he and his wife traveled to Europe. Every autumn they made a trip back to the Prairies to relive memories of their earlier years. Jacob also enjoyed gardening. His flowers were his pride and joy. As Mary's health deteriorated he became her prime caregiver and continued until such a time that she became a resident at Menno. Mary died on 28 September 1996.
After Mary's passing Jacob moved to Vernon, British Columbia, where his daughter resided. Here he once again was able to do some gardening. He also built a model railroad including tracks and villages. While in Vernon he attended the German Church of God.
Jacob was a good story teller, and with his sense of humour kept everyone's attention. In his younger years he also served the church as a lay minister, preaching at special occasions. He had a simple faith in God. After a short time in hospital Jacob passed away on 9 September 2004 in Vernon, BC.
Bibliography
GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 6.02 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2010: #925070.
Additional Information
Jacob was the son of Jakob H. Brucks (19 January 1889, Ladekopp, Molotschna, South Russia - 15 February 1976, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada) and Margarita (Hamm) Brucks (14 January 1891, Rudnerweide, Molotschna, South Russia - 2 October 1985, Clearbrook, British Columbia, Canada).
Jacob married Mary Hildebrand (16 April 1912 – 28 September 1996, Abbotsford, British Columbia) on 2 February 1940 in Black Creek, British Columbia. Mary was the daughter of Peter Daniel Hildebrand (26 June 1884, Rosengart, Chortitza, South Russia - 29 January 1967, Black Creek, British Columbia) and Katharina (Rempel) Hildebrand (14 May 1886, Burwalde, Chortitza, South Russia - 28 April 1915, Rosengart, Chortitza, South Russia).
Jacob and Mary had two children, Richard and Laura.
| Author(s) | Laura Steele |
|---|---|
| Date Published | June 2010 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steele, Laura. "Brucks, Jacob (1916-2004)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2010. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brucks,_Jacob_(1916-2004)&oldid=94125.
APA style
Steele, Laura. (June 2010). Brucks, Jacob (1916-2004). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brucks,_Jacob_(1916-2004)&oldid=94125.
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