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Jake's father and mother were Jacob Daum and Natalia Leistiko who were immigrants from Germany. They met and married in Grand Forks N. D., where Jake was born on January 4, 1898. At an early age the family moved to Montana as "squatters", and after a period of time were allowed to homestead their chosen land near Glasgow, Montana, on the Missouri River. The family grew, and with everyone's hard work the farm/ranch prospered. Raising cattle was a primary part of ranching, and the cattle roamed free on open range. Tending the cattle was a big responsibility for Jake and older brother Edward, where they encountered many difficult and unusual experiences.
At the age of 29 in 1927, Jake escorted a train load of their cattle to market in Chicago, a task always left to Edward or Jake. As a side trip he came to Madison, KS. to visit a younger brother Henry. Hearing of work in McPherson County took him to the place where he would spend the rest of his life. The John C. Goering family near Elyria, took him in like a son, and gave him a job during the harvest. After the crops were in, they needed some remodeling done. This was the beginning of his lifelong career as a carpenter, a skill that he learned from his father.
In 1930 he married Emma Stucky and left his Lutheran faith to become a Mennonite, a faith which he embraced. They had two children Jeanette and Kermit. During this time the Daum construction business grew and thrived. He built many homes, and his speed and quality construction became his trademark. He chose his crews carefully, and expected nothing less than excellence. It was a source of great pride to him.
Following Emma's untimely death in 1959, Jake spent a lonely time. He then married Sara Stucky, whose family he had known for many years, and whose brothers Paul and Willard both worked for him in carpentry. Jake and Sara enjoyed many years together traveling to many places including California to visit relatives, many scenic areas such as Alaska, Canada, Yellowstone, Monument Valley, and a mule trip down the Grand Canyon. But he continued to work until 1979, at the age of 81. During those latter years he was getting jobs and supervising his excellent crew.
After his retirement he was still living in Elyria, in the home which he had built for his family. His love of working with wood continued, in the form of building nativity scene puzzle sets. He made them out of many kinds of wood, most of which he cut and dried himself. They became in great demand, and black walnut was the wood of greatest demand. He built more than 350 sets, many of which he gave away, but sold some for the bargain price of $35, barely covering his cost. The demand was far greater than the supply. He also made many walnut Christmas tree decorations, mainly for friends and family. The memory of Jake will remain for many years, especially at Christmas time.
In 1990 Jake and Sara moved to the retirement village, The Cedars in McPherson. This was a move they never regretted, (with the exception of Jake complaining of no tool to do his wood working). It has been a time of carefree and independent living, in a setting with many friends. They have enjoyed the visits of many friends and family during these years.
This eulogy would not be complete without an event that Jake is well noted for. That would be the MCC cattle walk, for which he was rightly once named: "The Patron Saint of the Cattle Walk." No person worked harder than Jake and Sara to collect money for this worthy cause. On several occasions he earned over $10,000 visiting people, and business owners in the McPherson community. He earned a total of approximately $100.000 for charity. It was truly a labor of love, exemplary of his life.
We must also honor Sara for being the wonderful wife to Jake, bringing much joy and stability for the last 43 plus happy years of his life. She has meant a great deal to our entire family, and a grandmother for Jeanette and Kermit's children, and a great grand-mother to their children. She has truly been a blessing to us all.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers and 2 sisters, and first wife Emma. Survivors include his wife Sara, daughter Jeanette and husband Ron Friesen, of Loveland, CO, son Kermit and wife Anne of Derby, KS., five grandchildren Kevin Friesen and wife Kathy of Loveland, CO., Bradley Friesen and wife Marde of Memphis, TN. Malaura and husband Bob Epperson of Wichita, KS., Natalie and husband Bryan Shelton of Tulsa, OK. and Melissa and husband Matt Johnston of Stillwater, OK. Great grandchildren Goeffry Friesen, Paige and Nicholas Epperson, Claire, Jacob, Hannah and Camille Shelton, and Tatum Olivia Johnston. Also surviving are sisters Mary Widdows of Orange, CA. and Margaret and husband Walter Meyers of Paradise, CA. Linda Oberst, Sara's sister, who lives next door, and other members of her family, including many nieces and nephews were also an important part of Jake's long life.