Donald L. "Jake" Jacobs

On June 25, 2021, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, Donald "Jake" Jacobs passed away into God's graces at age 73 at home in Anchorage, Alaska. born to Harry and Lillian (Peterson) Jacobs in Burlington, Iowa and spent his youth in Henderson County, Illinois. Through his childhood he became an avid hunter and trapper, while he also developed a love of baseball. Jake graduated from Union High School in Biggsville, Illinois in 1966and then was drafted into the US Army in 1966. serving in Germany during the Viet Nam War. After his service he worked for more than five years at General Telephone. He then went on to have a long and successful career at Metropolitan Life where he receive many awards in his field. This led to several international trips with his wife and daughter. Jake was a man of strong Christian faith. His determination and unwillingness to give up after becoming a quadriplegic in 2013 was a testament to the faith. Jake moved to Valdez, Alaska in 1988 with his wife and daughter where they quickly became an integral part of the community. He worked in and ran multiple businesses in Valdez and was active in his church. Throughout his 33 years in his adopted home, he fell in love with the beauty of Alaska, fishing, and tourism. In his early years in Alaska, he was known to make midnight runs to the Copper River to dip-net for sockeye salmon. He is survived by his daughter, Marci (Jacobs) Cornell, grandchildren, Keaton and Quincy Cornell, brother Steve Jacobs, sister Karen Jacobs, brother Mike (Lisa) Jacobs, brother Richard Jacobs, in-laws Donna & Danny Bielser, Connie Russell, Vicki & Ken Shauman, Peggy &Mike West, Nancy Borg, & numerous nieces and nephews. Don is also survived by his long-time companion and caregiver Peggy Giles, her 3 adult children and 7 grandchildren. Jake was preceded in death by his mother, father, wife Cheryl (Tootsie), sister Mary Jacobs, nephew Jason Jacobs, nieces Amy West, Stephanie (Russell) Taylor, Lea Ellen Borg, and brother-in-law Robert Russell. 
A graveside service in Biggsville, Illinois will be held late summer 2021, details forthcoming from turnbullfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to

: Veterans Administration - Puget Sound Health Care System 
1660 South Columbian Way ATTN: Voluntary Services, Spinal Cord Injury Unit Seattle, WA 98106. 

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