Jacob Hildebrandt

Jacob "Jake" Hildebrand, 85, went home to his loving Saviour Jesus on March 27, 2018 after a valiant battle with a long illness. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.

He was predeceased by his beloved son Bruce in 2016 as well as his siblings Ann Letkeman, Paul Hildebrandt, Carl Hildebrandt, Mary Laycock, and Agatha Saccucci.

He is survived by Phyllis his wife of 64 years, two daughters Robin (Glenn) Bates and Tracy (Darryl) Horton, by his grandchildren Ryan (Nadia) Bates, Naomi Horton, Nathan Horton (Jenn Edstrom), Jennifer (Scott) Olmsted and great-grandchildren Kayla Diguistini, Kirsten (Darrin) Climie, Makenna Olmsted, Jacob Bates and Olivia Edstrom. He is also survived by five siblings John (June) Hildebrandt, Peter (Trudy) Hildebrandt, Helen (Henry) Wiebe, Eva (Rene) Van Tatenhove, and Henry (Lynn) Hildebrandt, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and close friends.

Together with his wife Phyllis, Jake raised three children and then spent an additional 35 years of his life lovingly devoted to the care of his head-injured son, Bruce.

Jake was born poor, worked hard all his life and was very successful in his endeavors. He came to British Columbia at the age of 15 and went directly to work. Some of his many jobs include a fish cannery, landscaping, a metal foundry, and worked in the trucking industry and started his own trucking company. He bought a trailer park and a chicken farm and moved his family to the Fraser Valley. Jake decided that chickens were not his thing (took up too much valuable fishing time) and so he sold the chicken farm, bought acreage and got into farming. He worked various part time jobs including running loader in a gravel pit and splitting cedar shakes. He was admired and loved for his generosity and desire to help family and friends. Jake loved to fish, hunt and play guitar and would tell stories to anyone who would listen. His family was most important to him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him and we will cherish the memories of all the wonderful times we had together.