Jake Muller
April 13, 2026
April 13, 2026
April 13, 2026
Jacob (Jake) Muller, a youthful 78, of Abbotsford, British Columbia, passed away unexpectedly on April 13, 2026, at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital from complications after recent routine surgery. Born in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, in 1947, he was the first son and namesake of his father in the tradition of German families over the generations at the time. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Schneider), were ethnic Germans from the village of Moragy (Maratz in German) in Hungary. They immigrated to Canada when he was around 10 years old and eventually settled with his maternal grandparents in Woodstock, Ontario.
Raised and educated in Ontario where he received his B.A. at the University of Guelph, Jake then earned his M.A. at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He had a long academic career in BC where he served over 30 years in a variety of capacities as a union activist and finally retired as Professor Emeritus from Northwest Community College (now Coast Mountain College) in Terrace. His greatest achievement was a writing guide which Oxford University Press published.
In his leisure, Jake had a variety of interests and was an accomplished amateur guitarist, performing in jazz and blues ensembles until hearing loss ended his musical hobby. In spite of his color-blindness, he started learning to paint landscapes in oils on canvas from local professional Terrace artist Wally Humphrey, after whose death he was self-taught. In retirement in Abbotsford, Jake pursued his writing career on other topics of interest, expanded his art on canvas beyond oils, and into acrylics and glitter, and produced protest art on the side. He was active in local art circles where his work was included in many shows at galleries. He also served honorably, working for positive change, on his strata council for 2 years.
Jake's devoted wife of 20 years, Barbara Hammer, whom he met in Terrace, but was originally from Virginia, shared his German heritage and survives him as a heartbroken widow. In Ontario, his surviving family members and their spouses are his brother Pete (Lynn) of Ingersoll, nephews Stewart (daughter Elora, fiancee Lainey Irwin and son Bodhi) and Neil (sons Noah and Nicholas) of Woodstock, and niece Emma Muller (Salina Wang) of Toronto. His nephews and niece knew him for always remembering birthdays.
Arrangements were made for Jake's remains at Just Cremation in Aldergrove, BC. The Muller family in Ontario held a private celebration of life on the weekend following his passing. In honor of his memory, his widow asks friends, family and acquaintances to support the arts, especially programs in public schools.
You are invited to leave a personal message for the family.