Obituary for Abram Esau
Abe was born on June 25, 1933 in Manitoba, the 7 th of 10 children to Jacob and Anna Esau.
He grew up on the farm where hard work was a given to the start of every day. He carried on each and
every day throughout his life with a strong work ethic and attention to doing it well.
He left school in Grade 10 to continue his learning from an abundance of different life experiences and
jobs like driving big trucks across Canada, logging in BC, working at the Cannery in Steveston, attending
Bible College in Winnipeg. He met many people along the way that became life long friends.
Abe met his wife, Martha, in 1954 in Calgary. They married in 1956. Martha encouraged Abe to continue
his formal education. He became a teacher in 1961 in Yahk, BC and then continued his education to
receive his university degree from UBC in 1967. He taught elementary school in North Vancouver until
his retirement in 1989. Abe’s adventures with his family included two years of teaching in Zaire and
travelling in other parts of Africa, Europe and North America. Upon retirement, Abe developed an
interest in carving, collecting pieces of driftwood and cedar that he picked up on his daily walks along
the beaches of West Vancouver. He transformed the wood into beautiful birds of the Pacific Northwest.
Abe also found great joy starting his morning at the gym getting a good workout and then enjoying
coffee with his early morning friends. He stayed active in his community, serving lunch with his wife at
the Senior’s Centre, ushering at the Church, lending a helping hand to his neighbours, giving a friendly
smile to the pharmacist, grocery clerks or his favourite bankers. Abe loved spending time with his
grandchildren taking them on excursions to the beach, the park and construction sites and then sharing
apple pie and ice cream or a big slice of watermelon with them to round out the day cuddling on the
couch. Great family times were spent skiing at Whistler or around the table feasting and celebrating
special events and birthdays.
Abe passed away peacefully on May 28, 2023, his heart filled with love for his family and friends. As a
family we feel so blessed to have had precious time sharing our love with him during his final weeks.
Abe is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Martha and by his son, Gerald (Nadine), his daughter,
Leanne and his four grandchildren: Dustin and Breanne Esau, Jasmine and Soleil Lloyd. He is also
survived by his older brother, Henry (Betty), younger brother, David (Anita), older sisters, Helen and
Nina, and his youngest sister Mary and his many nephews and nieces.
He grew up on the farm where hard work was a given to the start of every day. He carried on each and
every day throughout his life with a strong work ethic and attention to doing it well.
He left school in Grade 10 to continue his learning from an abundance of different life experiences and
jobs like driving big trucks across Canada, logging in BC, working at the Cannery in Steveston, attending
Bible College in Winnipeg. He met many people along the way that became life long friends.
Abe met his wife, Martha, in 1954 in Calgary. They married in 1956. Martha encouraged Abe to continue
his formal education. He became a teacher in 1961 in Yahk, BC and then continued his education to
receive his university degree from UBC in 1967. He taught elementary school in North Vancouver until
his retirement in 1989. Abe’s adventures with his family included two years of teaching in Zaire and
travelling in other parts of Africa, Europe and North America. Upon retirement, Abe developed an
interest in carving, collecting pieces of driftwood and cedar that he picked up on his daily walks along
the beaches of West Vancouver. He transformed the wood into beautiful birds of the Pacific Northwest.
Abe also found great joy starting his morning at the gym getting a good workout and then enjoying
coffee with his early morning friends. He stayed active in his community, serving lunch with his wife at
the Senior’s Centre, ushering at the Church, lending a helping hand to his neighbours, giving a friendly
smile to the pharmacist, grocery clerks or his favourite bankers. Abe loved spending time with his
grandchildren taking them on excursions to the beach, the park and construction sites and then sharing
apple pie and ice cream or a big slice of watermelon with them to round out the day cuddling on the
couch. Great family times were spent skiing at Whistler or around the table feasting and celebrating
special events and birthdays.
Abe passed away peacefully on May 28, 2023, his heart filled with love for his family and friends. As a
family we feel so blessed to have had precious time sharing our love with him during his final weeks.
Abe is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Martha and by his son, Gerald (Nadine), his daughter,
Leanne and his four grandchildren: Dustin and Breanne Esau, Jasmine and Soleil Lloyd. He is also
survived by his older brother, Henry (Betty), younger brother, David (Anita), older sisters, Helen and
Nina, and his youngest sister Mary and his many nephews and nieces.