Jacob Martens

Jake was born south of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the youngest of 12 children, 9 of whom survived childhood. At the age of 2 his family moved to the Saskatoon area where they continued farming. His job as a young child was to close the henhouse at night with a big wooden block in the chicken door and open it up in the morning. The family moved to Ontario when he was 14 and he worked at a tomato factory, Thompson Products, Hayes Steel and General Motors.

In 1950 he went to a dance with his friend where he was set up on a blind date with a black-haired beauty named Mable. He fell hard and spent the next 5 years trying to win her hand. In 1951 they moved back to Saskatoon to work for a couple of years, she finally said yes and they married in 1955.

Jake worked in a lot of different jobs in those early years – driving the transit bus, streetcar, and working at an “old-fashioned” food store. He was not afraid to take risks, unleashing his entrepreneurial spirit by driving “Jake’s Delivery” truck, farming chinchilla, and later raising praying mantis and quail.

Jake and Mable were in a couple of bowling leagues and were great dancers. They loved to go to dances, they were in a square dance club during the winter and later branched out to round and line dancing. Jake was an avid fisherman and loved to fish the Saskatchewan lakes for pike and pickerel. He also played pool very well all his life, still beating his children just months ago. Jake and Mable had an active social life and had a lot of company, but then when the kids came along it was “a little bit different”. I guess we cramped their style, but they were happy to be parents. Dad was always so proud to say that his first child was born on his birthday.

Two kids later, and after multiple holidays to Kelowna, Jake decided to move the family there and opened a dry cleaner shop. Then he worked as a baggage handler and limo driver at the airport and ran occasional night shuttles to Salmon Arm. His longest job was at Simpson-Sears, driving the small parcel delivery van. He was such a social person, this was the perfect fit for him, as he got to meet so many people on his route. He took early retirement in 1985 but after 3 months they asked him back and he was the assembly guy for another 7 years before he shut it down for good.

Retirement was good for Jake and Mable. They had a 5th wheel trailer, always on the go to golf trips throughout the valley and the Kootenays and they also voyaged to many places including Mexico, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Florida, Yuma, Britain and Europe, and Panama. They spent a lot of time skiing and golfing and Jake’s love of music, especially classical and country, inspired him to play the harmonica, accordion and his vocal chords.

Jake is survived by sister Margaret (Mickey) Schienle; son Carter (Anita) Martens, daughters Heather (Dennis) Oishi, and Sylvia (Daniel) Bourassa; grandchildren Amy Oishi, Kyla (Brett) Blanleil, Steven Oishi (Hazelett Mclean), Mitchell MacDonald, and Olivia Bourassa; and great-grandchildren Rion and Mya Blanleil.

Jake will be remembered for his strong work ethic, blue eyes, quick wit, passion for justice, and the ability to fix anything. He treated everyone equally, regardless of their status in life.

A Celebration of Life for Jake and Mable will be held at noon on August 15/23 at First Memorial, 1211 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, BC. You can view the service livestream through the "join livestream" icon below.

We would like to thank Dr. Benade and the staff of Sunpointe Village for their loving care of our Dad for the past couple of years. We will always be grateful for your support and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, please go hug your family.