Persona

Rempel, Jacob G.

1903-1976

Jacob G. Rempel lost both parents and an older brother during the conflict and typhus that swept Mennonite colonies in Russia in 1919. In June 1923, Jacob (b. 1903) and his brother David (b. 1899) immigrated to Canada, arriving in Rosthern, Saskatchewan in July 1923. They spoke German, some Russian, but no English; and had the equivalent of $1.25 Canadian in funds. By 1928, however, Jacob had secured a three-year scholarship to the University of Saskatchewan, from which he graduated with the Governor General's Gold Medal and high honours in Biology in 1931. He joined the Biology department that year as an instructor and earned his MSc by 1933. He took a leave of absence in 1936 to attend Cornell, earning his PhD in 1937. He remained with the University of Saskatchewan for the rest of his career, becoming a full professor by 1953 and being named Rawson Professor in 1962. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, awarded the Centennial Medal "in recognition of valuable service to the nation," and upon his retirement in 1970, was awarded emeritus status. He was particularly known for his research on mosquitoes and equine encephalitis. He died in Victoria, British Columbia in May 1976.