John W. Jacobs

John W. Jacobs, 93, of Wilderville died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at his home after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 11.00 a.m. at Wilderville Community United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charles Chase officiating. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Jacobs was born Feb. 16, 1916 in Birdsboro, PA. As a young man in the 1930’s, he had quite an adventure traveling across the country. He then worked as an aircraft engine representative in Wichita, Kansas, enlisted in the Air Force during WWII and was assigned to the aerodynamics division of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in Virginia. After the war, he worked in the oil fields of Texas before moving to Northern California where he met Marilyn. John and Marilyn were married on Sept. 13, 1948. After moving to Wilderville in 1958, Jacobs worked as millwright in a plywood mill and obtained his real estate broker license. He and his wife owned and operated Redwood Realty in Grants Pass from 1970 until his retirement in 1985. During this time in his life, he enjoyed spending winters in Mexico and traveling to Alaska and Florida to visit his son and to fish. He was able to make a last fishing expedition to Gold Beach in August of 2009 and caught two salmon. Besides fishing, he loved working on his ranch in Wilderville, his farm animals, bee-keeping, tending his garden and donating vegetables to family, friends and charity over the years, horse back riding, his bible studies, spending time with his family, a good joke and a glass of red wine in the evening. He was a member of Wilderville Community United Methodist Church for many years.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, John & Debbie Jacobs of Wilderville; two daughters, Darlene Reed and Joella Jacobson of Grants Pass; five grandchildren, Ashley Jacobs, Chris Reed, Matt Reed, Zane Jacobson and Thad Jacobson; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn in 2008 and a granddaughter, Jessica Jacobs in 1996.