Jacob S. Enns

Jake S Enns passed away peacefully at the age of 86 years with his family by his side, on September 21, 2026 at the Altona Memorial Health Centre. He was predeceased by his parents (Jacob P Enns & Katherine (nee Sawatzky)), his sister Helen Fehr (nee Enns) and his brothers Bill and Peter Enns.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Ann Enns (nee Dueck), of Altona; his children, Allan Enns, Donald (Ang) Enns, Rita (Doug) Peters, Lori (Chris) Franz, and Kristy (Jason) Rempel; and his grandchildren, Andrea, Erin (Xan Seymour) Peters, Ethan (Rheanne), Kaylee, Nolan, Grayden Franz, Avery, Evan, and Kian Rempel.

He is survived by his siblings Mary, Hilda, John, Marge, Hank, Kathy, Ken, along with their families, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

As the eldest child, Jake was born above his parents' store in Halbstadt. Though raised in humble and challenging circumstances, he worked diligently throughout his life to build a better future. Despite completing his formal education in Grade 8, he remained a lifelong learner, passionately pursuing whatever sparked his curiosity. He met Ann at a hockey game, and over time, she became the love of his life; they were married on a hot, humid summer day on July 8, 1962.

In his early adulthood, Jake worked as a backhoe operator for John P. Enns, where he loved to boast that he could split a toothpick in half with the backhoe bucket. As the story goes, he pulled off a classic bit of misdirection: during a break, he walked over to sharpen the metal tooth on the bucket, pulled out a toothpick, and split it clean in two right against it—all without ever needing to step foot in the cab. Years later, his grandchildren enjoyed his operator skills during rides around the farm in his Versatile 276 and Kubota tractors. Those who knew Jake well know he must have had nine lives. Between falling down a well as a boy, plunging through river ice in a backhoe, getting kidnapped in Mexico, and narrowly avoiding a plane crash, he always managed to come through with another story to tell.

A farmer by vocation, Jake’s deep love of the land was evident in his many truck rides through the fields, his innovative work introducing zero-till practices, and the thousands of trees he planted both to combat erosion and to enjoy. Like his favorite tree, the oak, his roots were firmly anchored in his love for family, church, and community. He served on numerous committees and was recently instrumental in developing the Trans Canada Trail between Altona and Gretna—a stretch now rich with native grasses, trees, and plants that offer a haven for birds, butterflies, and wildlife. Over their years together, Ann was often the happy recipient of roadside wildflower bouquets gathered from random ditches and woods along his travels.

In his free time, Jake enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, playing cribbage, working on projects with his grandkids, attending their events, and playing catch—and if you caught that special twinkle in his eye, you knew shenanigans were afoot. While harvesting beets and waiting to unload, he spent the downtime studying for his private pilot's license, leading to many memorable flights together afterward. Every spring, he tapped maple trees, and in the fall, he harvested apples to press fresh juice. In his later years, he completed thousands of Sudoku puzzles, always relying on his trademark fine-point pen, the Pilot BP-1450-FB.

Jake will be dearly missed, and we are deeply grateful and honored to be his family. Thank you to everyone for your heartfelt prayers, thoughtful messages, and well wishes. 

Donations in memory of Jake may be made to the Rhineland and Area Food Bank.