Richard "Dick" Jacobs

Richard Lee Jacobs was welcomed into heaven by our kind and merciful Jesus and all our family and friends who have entered eternal life before him on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

Dick was born on October 26, 1936 to Henry and Gladys Jacobs as their second son. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, John at age 37, as well as his sister, Mary Anne, at age 2. His other siblings survive him; Mary and (Bill) Skiles, H. Kurt and (Terry) Jacobs, Peter and (Brenda) Jacobs, Jeannie and (Paul) Linzmeyer, and Kathy and (Brett) Everson; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Fisher. He is also survived by his aunt Betty Miskella and aunt Helen Brennen; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Dick attended St. Boniface grade school, Abbott Pennings High School and St. Norbert College, graduating in 1958. There he was in the R.O.T.C. and after graduation joined the army reserves for eight years, retiring as a captain.

He was quite athletic and played all sports, but baseball was his favorite even wanting to follow it as a career if that were an option. He later played softball and coached De Pere Little League. He was a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan. He was also a very good pool player and enjoyed fishing and golfing as well.

On May 11, 1963, Dick married the former Bonnie Brozyna to whom he was married for 54 years. Together they were blessed with four beautiful children. Another son Joseph died shortly after birth in 1968. Julie (Jay) Boettge, sons Daniel and Robert Livingston; Mary Beth (David) Vander Steeg, sons Andrew and Evan; Michael Jacobs; and Karyn (Mark) Dart, sons Jacob, Michael, and Shaun, step-daughter Ashley (Paul) Tanner and their sons Easton and Jax.
Dick worked with his father, uncle, and brother in the family grocery business until it was sold and then continued his career in accounting first with Morning Glory Dairy and then Phillips Getschow, first at the power plant in Kewaunee and then was transferred to Chicago in their main office in Chicago, IL.

After several years of big city life, the family decided to move back to Wisconsin to raise their four small children in a quieter lifestyle, and he finished his career at Alwin Manufacturing Company as their comptroller. They lived for 36 years in their Allouez home where they were avid gardeners and proud of their extensive collection of roses as well as other flowers and vegetable garden.

After retirement, Dick and Bonnie did extensive traveling both on their own to their travel club destinations, but also enjoying fabulous trips with Donna Emmer and the Vintage 55 Club at the Denmark State Bank including Hawaii, a 13 day tour of the eastern coast including New York, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls, Lake Placid, Vermont, Maine, the towers before they fell etc. (best of the tours); a cruise to Panama Canal and four other ports of call; and Sacramento and the wine country to name a few.

They loved the warm weather and sun, so after 36 years in their same home in Allouez, they decided to sell and move to sunny Arizona and buy their forever home there in 2013. Summers can be quite hot and with family busy with work and children, visits from them few and distance far, they decided in 2015 to lease an apartment in Allouez. A few summer months in Wisconsin each year to be near family and friends worked out to be a great solution until his unexpected illness was diagnosed in July of last year.

Most people who knew Dick will remember him as one of the most humble, generous, and unselfish persons they have known who always put others first, especially his wife and family.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Rhonda Steffel for her kindness, compassison and expertise in her profession; and to the Drs. And staff at Green Bay Oncology and Unity Hospice for the wonderful care given to Dick and his family during this difficult and stressful time.

Family and friends may visit at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, Allouez, on Thursday, March 8, from 9:00am until 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Bishop Robert Morneau officiating and Fr. Tim Shillcox, O.Praem concelebrating. Burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, De Pere. Cotter Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family. Online condolences at www.cotterfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you donate to the charity of your choice in Dick’s name. He was particularly partial to children’s causes.