Tribute

Jacob Peter Schellenberg was born on December 26, 1928 in Milden, Saskatchewan  to Jacob George and Helen Schellenberg (nee Krause).   At 1 year old his family moved to Rosemary, Alberta, where he grew up. He  had a sister Helen and a brother George.  At age 18 he moved to Abbotsford. Here his Uncle Abe challenged him about changing his rather wild lifestyle. He realized his need for Christ and received Him as his Saviour.  He met his future wife, Ruth Kropp, through his cousin who was taking a sewing course with her. They were married on August 16, 1951. He started working as a mechanic and in 1960 purchased a Shell service station in Clearbrook, which became Schellenberg Service and today includes Clearway Car and Truck Rentals. In the meantime, they had 6 children.  With a heart for children and their salvation, shortly after they were married, Jake and Ruth became involved with starting a Sunday School on Sumas Prairie. This became Prairie Chapel and Jake (and Ruth) took on many leadership and servant roles here. The children grew up here.   After taking an early retirement, he and Ruth also started getting involved with Helping Hands, with the ladies sewing blankets for local and overseas people, and Jake loading and also keeping the ladies’ sewing machines serviced. This developed into him servicing and repairing donated machines and shipping over 1000 sewing machines overseas to third world countries. He was still doing this 2 weeks before he passed away.  Jake was gradually getting weaker and after a short stay in the hospital, on Thursday, December 1, he departed this life to be with Jesus in heaven.

He leaves behind his wife of 71 years, Ruth, his children, Judy (and Albert), Sharon (and Wes), Jim (and Heather), Rick (and Elma), Gary (and Julie), and Lauri (and Tommy). He also leaves 33 grandchildren (including spouses) and 34 great-grandchildren, and his brother, George. Jake’s family honours and respects the example their father and grandfather left for them in a Godly heritage.