JACOB “JAKE” FRIESEN HIEBERT

Jacob “Jake” Friesen Hiebert, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, died in hospital at Selma, California on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Jacob Hiebert was born in Rosendahl, a Mennonite colony in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua Mexico on April 1, 1939. He was the second son to John and Gertrude Hiebert, both from Canada. Jacob was a part of a large family whom he loved very much. Jacob immigrated from Mexico to Reedley, California in 1972 with his wife and five children.

Jacob was a genius at mechanical engineering. He worked for multiple agricultural manufacturing firms on first arriving in California and soon started his own engineering companies with various partners. He enjoyed solving engineering problems and inventing new products to revolutionize agricultural manufacturing. He held patents for 8 different inventions in both the US and Canada. Jacob owned businesses in California, Texas, and Mexico.

Jacob loved long road trips with his wife Aganetha Peters Martens visiting the U.S. national parks, especially the Monterey Peninsula, Yosemite National Park and Niagara Falls. Jacob enjoyed connecting with his siblings in Mexico, Canada, the US, and Bolivia. He also enjoyed history, politics, John Wayne movies and coin collections.

Jacob loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and took pride in their growth and accomplishments. He planned a trip to Texas in the spring, where he owned some property, and where he planned to visit family and friends.

On the day he died, Jacob exercised as he did every day, and he had a haircut to prepare for his 87th birthday party his family had planned for two days later.

Jacob is survived by his second wife Netta Peters Martens, his children Ann and her husband Michael Barnard, Trudy Woo and husband Darren, John Hiebert and wife Laurie Schultz, Margaret Hiebert and husband John Fitzer, Eva Zimmerman and husband James.

Jacob’s grandchildren are Joshua Wiebe and his wife Whitney, Nicholas Wiebe and his wife Jacqui, Julia Wiebe, Garlin and Mattea Zimmerman and William “Billy” Fitzer. Jacob’s great-grandchildren are Sophie, Eloise and Jude Wiebe.

A private graveside ceremony will take place in Kingsburg, California April 17, 2026.

Please send remembrances to Yost & Webb Funeral Home or donate to the US National Parks in Jacob’s name.

The family wishes to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and support.