Nancy Jean Jacobs

Beloved Nancy Jean (Collins) Jacobs, born on June 28, 1948, in Hastings, Nebraska, to Thomas and Norma ("Wonnie") Collins, passed away on August 30, 2016, engulfed by love as her devoted husband, Larry Anthony Jacobs, and sister, Sharon Bauer, were at her side.

Nancy grew up in Lawrence, Nebraska, graduating from Lawrence High School in 1966. In 1968 she married Larry, her high school sweetheart, and after living in Biloxi and Wichita during his four years in the Air Force, they settled in Lincoln on "C" Street.

Nancy had a few jobs here and there, but above all else she loved mothering, and if degrees or accolades were bestowed for such a thing, she surely would have a few PhDs and Nobels. She was a devoted mom to her children Shannon, Gabriel and Michaela. She kept them mesmerized with an abundance of creative ideas and homespun advice, and never missed an opportunity to expose them to new adventures. But her mothering didn't stop at her own kids. She loved and nurtured countless nieces, nephews, neighborhood kids, and her friends’ children and grandchildren.

In recent years, she delighted in being "honey grams" to her two "grand girlies," Leigh and Livingston. She ensured every trip they made to Nebraska was magical -- transforming her dining room into a playroom, having a new driveway poured so they could write their names in wet cement, or having a fainting goat greet them at the door. Every time she visited them she brought a suitcase full of sparkly dress-up clothes.

A warm person who never met a stranger, her countless acts of kindness touched many. She laid wreaths on soldiers’ graves, opened her home to people in need, and listened when someone needed to be heard. Blessed with an infectious, bigger-than-life personality, she was the unassuming life of the party, a gifted storyteller who could keep any audience enraptured.

She found delight in smelling life's roses even in the face of adversity. And somehow time moved slower and felt sweeter when she was around.

She was opinionated and passionate. She loved wearing colorful clothes and lots of jewelry. She was a voracious reader, pop-culture follower and newspaper clipper. She was proud of her Irish roots. She loved to cruise around town. She was the best trivial pursuit partner. There wasn't a word she couldn't pronounce or spell. She loved tchotchkes and books with inspirational quotes. She loved tea and margaritas, taking bubble baths, and owned Birkenstocks in every color.

She went out of her way to pay people compliments. She loved the element of surprise. She loved her pets and gave them names like Lady GaGa and Hot Diggity Dog. She loved Hillary Clinton and women in power. She loved Marines, especially her son. She loved calling her daughter in her New York office about breaking news or ringing up her other daughter, then in Los Angeles, with the latest celebrity gossip or new must-check-out restaurant.

But most of all she loved hearing as many stories as her children had time to tell her -- even better if it was one from her son in a far off land or a story about those grand girlies.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Larry, with whom she shared 48 years of a pretty sweet marriage, children Shannon Leigh English of Weston, Conn., Gabriel Anthony Jacobs of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Michaela Norma Jacobs, as well as Steve Rowland of New York City, son-in-law Garrett English and "grand girlies" Leigh Collins English and Livingston Jane English. Nancy is also survived by her sister, Sharon Anne Bauer of Lincoln and brother Patrick Lee Collins of Longmont, Colo. In addition she leaves numerous brothers and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends -- all of whom are saddened by her passing but will never forget the love and laughter she brought to their lives.

Rosary: 7 p.m., Friday, September 9, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street. Funeral service: 10 a.m., Saturday, September 10, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 14th and K street. Parking and trolley service provided to funeral, please visit lincolnfh.com for details and to leave condolences. Memorials: Matt Talbot Kitchen. CHURCH PARKING: Parking near St. Mary's on Saturday morning will be limited. Given this, we ask guests to park one mile away at in a lot at 21st & E street (near First Plymouth Church). A trolly will be making loops starting at 8:30am to bring you to the church, and then back to your car after the service.