Jacob (Loewen) Leven was born on the 16th of January 1903, in the Chortitza Colony. He was only 1 year old when his family moved to Orenburg in the Southern Urals. Jacob was an avid reader and had a deep love for study and learning. When his family decided to move to Canada in 1926, Jacob chose to remain and finish his studies. He promised his parents that he would follow when his studies were complete. He knew that a life of farming and hard physical work awaited him in Canada, for which he had no desire. Jacob was a student of the Teacher’s College in Vladikavkaz (Northern Caucasus) at the time.

     In 1929 he found himself in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), where his teacher-professor was invited to establish a Department of Geology at the Uzbekistan State University. From that time forward, his life became closely connected with this university, where he worked as assistant for the first time, after which he became Lecturer of Geology. His teaching life was interrupted by WWII, when he was forced to serve in the “Labour Army” like many other Germans living in Russia. He worked in the Urals, taking part in building military plants. The survival rate of this labour force was quite low; Jacob survived due partly to his ability to find work that was less physically strenuous. 

     In 1932, Jacob married a university student, Ljuba Viktorova. One year later their son Ernst was born, and two years later, daughter Eleanor Margarita was born. They lived in Samarkand until 1975, when they bought a house in Kaluga (south-west of Moscow), where Eleanor Margarita lived, together with her family. Jacob visited Canada in 1989 and met his siblings and their families after 63 years of separation. He met brothers Martin and Henry during their visit to the USSR in 1967 and 1986, respectively.

     Jacob’s wife, Ljuba (Viktorova) Leven was born in Kazan (Tatarstan) on the 28th of August, 1910. Her father (Ivan Viktorov) worked for Kazan University as an assistant, and her mother, (Anastasia Viktorova), was a tailor. In 1928 they moved to Samarkand, where Ivan began working at the Uzbek State University. Ljuba attended the Chemical Faculty of this University, where she met Jacob Leven, whom she married In 1932. Ljuba remained Jacob’s faithful companion until her passing on May 26, 1994.

     On the 25th of December 2001, Jacob died suddenly. His death had come 20 days before his 99th birthday. Sadly, one week later, on New Year’s Day, daughter Ella lost her battle with cancer. Jacob had been spry and active until his last day. On the morning of the day he died, he had boasted to his son about his strong health. He told Ernst that his health was the result of daily exercise, and that his goal was to outlive his father, Abraham (who had lived to an age just short of 103 years). Jacob and Ljuba’s direct descendants number 12.