Harry "Jake" Jacobs

The Old Buck has passed away. Harry E. Jacobs, 95, passed away on April 9, 2025, in Des Plaines, Illinois. Harry was born in Jenkins, Minnesota on February 24, 1930, to Alden and Helen Belle Jacobs. He never lacked for companionship around the farm with his 12 other brothers and sisters: Clyde, Lois, Zelmer, Lorin, Wayne, Burrel, Ervin, Marvel, Helen Marie, Richard (Dick), and the twins, Jack and June. His parents and all his siblings but for one brother have preceded him in death as well as his wife of 58 years, Dorothy D. Jacobs.

On March 17, 1949, Harry took the Naval Oath of Enlistment and graduated boot camp from Great Lakes Naval Station on June 10, 1949. It was while in the Navy in 1953, Harry earned his forever nickname, Jake, from his buddy, Richard Harris, Machinist 2nd class. Jake went on to receive five Good Conduct Awards and many other commendations. He served as a flight engineer on several aircrafts, logging over 16,000 hours in the air. Jake was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, the highest rank possible for an enlisted man, on May 16, 1962. After 20 years of military service, he retired from active duty on July 7, 1969.

Once again, a civilian, Jake began his 24-year career as a Terminal Mechanic with North Central Airlines at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. In 1995, he found himself retiring again. Now what would he do? He enjoyed flying with his brother, Dick Jacobs and nephew, Fred Jacobs. They all took many trips in their private plane. The most memorable being in 1998 when Dick and Jake flew a Cessna 172 to Fairbanks, Alaska and followed the Alcan Highway. Jake enjoyed a lot of his time with the guys at Camp Lake Airport and tinkering around the house, never missing an episode of Jeopardy. He relished visiting his grandchildren and attending as many of their activities as he could.

Jake married Dorothy Dittrich on September 10, 1955, and welcomed six children over the next 13 years. With being a military family, moving a lot was a part of their lives. It was no surprise then when their children were born on different bases across the United States. Jake and his family lived in a total of six different states and finally settled in Arlington Heights, Illinois after his retirement from the Navy.

Jake’s children, Barbara Tannenbaum, Julie Jacobs, Kevin Jacobs and wife, Sue, Susan Harris and her husband, Ian, Sally Rosson and her husband, Jim and Mary Beth Berns and her husband, Fred, along with his grandchildren, Kimberly Rosson, Cole and Lauren Harris, Steven Nystrom and all his nieces and nephews will all miss Jake’s (Uncle Harry’s) quick wit and his many, many stories not to mention playing a hand or two of cribbage with him.

So that future generations may benefit, he donated his body to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for the advancement of medical education. When his service is completed at the Mayo Clinic, Jake will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia with full military honors.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 with the visitation at 11:00 a.m. and the service at 12:00 p.m. with the reception to follow.

Please use the link provided to view livestream of the services which will begin at 11:45 a.m.

www.asimplestreaming.com/hejacobs

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christian Appalachian Project, http://www.christianapp.org/.

Jake flew West on his last flight around the sun, on April 9, 2025, at 5:30 am.