Jacob was a very common name, and particularly so in Blumenort, Manitoba, where Grace’s paternal grandfather, Jacob J Klassen (JJK) lived following their emigration from Russia in 1923. Blumenort had so many Jacob Klassens that they had to be differentiated by their middle name or initial, hence, a JJK, a JAK, a JRK, and so on. A Blumenort story had four men, in a car, travelling to the United States, and at Customs, each was asked his name. Each responded with “Jake Klassen”, which was accepted as normal by the Customs officer.

     The name Jake Klassen also led to some mix-ups. ‘Personal’ mail occasionally ended up in the hands of J H Klassen or J K Klassen (both ministers), who claimed, “I didn’t read it!”

From: Gerhard Klassen, Collected Stories, by George Klassen