Jacob Melvin "Jake" Schelhaas was born on October 28, 1934 to John and Lena
(Van Roekel) Schelhaas in Murray County, Minnesota.
He was born into a family of five siblings, two sisters, Carolyn and Laura, brother,
Nelvin, another brother who was taken to heaven upon birth, and a sister, Janice, to
complete their family.
Jake learned how to work hard at a very young age and after completing his education through the eighth grade, he began working. He continued to work until his body began to wear out. He had a love for animals and treated the livestock he was entrusted to care for with great pride, and loved to share his snacks with the family pets. His children always joked he came to visit their dogs instead of them.
In 1955, Jake enlisted in the Army and served for 3 years. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Jake found the lady he would spend the rest of his life with, Gladys Wassenaar, one Sunday night at the Steen Reformed Church. On September 30, 1960, they were married at that same church and lived the vows they made that day for over 61 years, most of those years spent in Woodstock, Minnesota.
Jake was a faithful member of American Reformed Church in Woodstock until he and Gladys retired and moved to Jasper. They became members of the Jasper Methodist Church at that time. They lived together until Jake entered Hospice to live his last days eating as many cookies as he wanted and drinking coffee. On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Jake passed away peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota at the age of 87 years.
Through their lifetime together they were blessed with three children:
Brian (Barb) - Alec (Ashley Caldwell)
Lowell (Hope) - Nicole and Jenna
Lynette (Rick) Ossefoort - Chessa (Orrie) Frahm and Adam (Racheal) Ossefoort
Jake wore many titles through the years but the one he was most proud of was grandpa.
He wore his Luverne Cardinal apparel with great pride.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lena; parents-in-law, William and Grace Wassenaar; daughter-in-law, LeAnn; siblings and spouses, Carolyn and Henry DeGroot, Laura and Gerrit Posthuma, Nelvin and Geneva Schelhaas, Janice Posthuma; brother-in-law, Gerrit Wassenaar; and sister-in-law, Bev Wassenaar.
To continue living life without him are his immediate family, Gladys, Brian, Barb, Alec, Lowell, Hope, Nicole, Jenna, Lynette, Rick, Chessa, Orrie, Adam, Racheal, sister-in-law, Betty Ackermann and her husband, Jerry, Bonnie Shelton and her husband, Dave, Nelva Behr and her husband, Ron; brother-in-law, Gary Posthuma; sister-in-law, Beverly Wassenaar; nieces, nephews, and many more family and friends.