Reimer, Jacob B., 1916-1985

Person

Reimer, Jacob B., 1916-1985

1916-1985

Jacob B. Reimer was born on September 13, 1916, in Silberfeld, a village between Gretna and Altona, Manitoba, the third son of Jacob F. and Katharina (Braun) Reimer’s ten children. He attended the school at Silberfeld for 4 years. In 1927, he and his parents were part of the group that immigrated from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Paraguay to establish the Menno Colony in the Chaco. His schooling ended when he was 14. In 1941, he was baptized, and on September 30, 1941, he married Aganetha Wiebe, who was born on March 18, 1918, in Steinbach, Manitoba. They had three daughters and one son, and adopted a second son; all studied in Canada; four live in Canada, while one remained in Paraguay. Reimer was elected as a member of the administration of the Menno Colony in 1945, as business manager of the Menno Colony cooperative, and was elected mayor (Oberschultz) in 1950, a position he held until 1967 and from 1974 to 1975. Active in community development, including schools, higher education, industry, settlement, and health services, he brought about many reforms, working closely with elder Martin C. Friesen. Reimer also served as chair of the Indian Settlement Board, an organization aimed at improving the lot of the indigenous peoples living in the Chaco. In the 1960s and ‘70s, he and his wife relocated to Canada several times, returning to Menno Colony after being invited back to continue his work with the colony administration board in 1970, ’73, and ’77. He died suddenly on February 4, 1985, at the age of 68, and was laid to rest in Loma Plata.

GRANDMA ID: 194679

Updated by CDS September 16, 2019.