Frederick Steven "Jake" Jacobs Jr.

Frederick S. “Jake” Jacobs Jr., 78 of St. Michael, ND passed away on Sunday afternoon, October 23, 2011 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake, ND. Come and celebrate and remember Jake’s life and share stories and jokes at the Commons Area of the Devils Lake High School on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Military Honors will be accorded by the Spirit Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6547 at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Devils Lake High School. Frederick Steven Jacobs Jr. was born on December 22, 1932, the son of Frederick S. Jacobs Sr. and Ernestine (Bean) Jacobs in Kellogg, Idaho where he grew up and was educated. Jake entered the United States Air Force on February 10, 1953 at Shoshone County, Idaho and served with the 92nd Periodic Maintenance Squadron during the Korean War with some time overseas. He was honorably discharged on February 9, 1957 at the Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He then enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and completed his obligation on February 9, 1961. After his discharge, Jake moved back to Idaho and this is where he met the love of his life working in a restaurant. He realized it would be cheaper to marry her than to eat out at the restaurant every day, so Jake and Helen Longie were married in the fall of 1957 in Superior, Montana. They made their home in Sioux City, Iowa for 17 years. Jake worked road construction, laborer in a packing house and loading trucks at Kapplen’s Warehouse. They had many happy times and made many friends while living in Sioux City. In 1977 the family moved to St. Michael ND and Jake began his 34 years working in schools and with school children. He was a bus driver for the St. Michael School District for several years and also worked as a custodian at Prairie View and Central Middle School. From 1983 until the time of his death, Jake was employed with the Devils Lake School System and was the bus driver for the St. Michael Route. Jake’s bus riders were now into the second and third generations of families. Jake loved his bus riders as if they were his own children and he never had a day that he wasn’t thankful for the wonderful people and co-workers of the Devils Lake School System. When he wasn’t behind the wheel of a bus, Jake loved to hunt, fish, build birdhouses and mow grass anywhere it was growing. And in everything he did, his sense of humor prevailed and you could always get a good story from Jake. Jake, a devoted husband, loving father, greatest grandfather in the world; a dedicated employee; gave service to his country; dear friend and neighbor; a man who made the world a better place. Rest in peace. Jake will be greatly missed by his wife Helen of St. Michael; his five children Robert “Bob” Jacobs also of St. Michael, Rose Marie Mills, Post Falls, Idaho, Carl “Buck” Jacobs, St. Michael, Julie Dugdale and JoAn Jacobs both of Devils Lake; eight grandchildren Rita Jacobs, Devils Lake; Stacey Mills and Brandi Mills of Idaho; Chris (Sarah) Jacobs, Sioux City, IA; Shannon Dugdale and Brandi (Chad) Nelson all of Devils Lake; Nicole Jacobs, Devils Lake and Matthew Pederson, Minneapolis; nineteen great grandchildren; sisters Betty (Ron) Walden, Soldotna, AK and Ruby Maki, Orofino, ID; many nieces and nephews and their families and 34 years of “bus kids”. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Joan Jacobs. Friends may sign the online register book and share memories at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com