Robert D. Jacobson

Robert D. (Jake) Jacobson, (80) of Marshalltown, died Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at MMSC. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. at St Mary Catholic Church on Friday, June 13, 2014, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2014, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, with a 7:00p.m.Vigil. Military Honors will be provided by Harry C. Harter Veterans of Foreign Wars Post#839 and American Legion Frank Lewis Glick Post # 46. Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Building Foundation. For condolences or questions please visit; www.mitchellfh.com . Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Robert and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. Jake was born June 1, 1934, in Marshalltown, Iowa the son of Dewey B. and Gaynelle M. (Kurtz) Jacobson. He graduated from St Marys High School in 1952. He worked briefly at the Kiowa Corporation in Marshalltown, and then worked for Iowa Electric Light & Power Company in the gas division. He then was employed by Western Electric, a division of AT&T, as a central office installer. Jake enlisted in the Army in 1953, received his basic training at Fort Riley Kansas, and worked in communications in the United States, was sent to Japan, then Korea. In Korea he was in the 8th Army Honor Guard where he served as a body guard for visiting dignitaries. He was discharged from the service at Fort Lewis Washington in 1956. He married Charlene A. Steier in June of 1954. Upon returning to Marshalltown, he started a dry cleaning facility, which his parents had retired from a year earlier. He joined the Marshalltown Fire Department in 1957, and served there 32 years as a firefighter and EMT. He was President of the Firefighters Local Union for several years as well as holding other positions in the Union. He headed up the negotiations for the first Union Contract with the City of Marshalltown. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1981. He served as recorder for several years, and was active in all the remodeling projects. He was the editor of the K of C newsletter for many years. After retiring from the MFD, he went to work for the Marshalltown Water Pollution Control Plant as an Administrative Secretary. He served the city in that position for ten years. During his retirement, he helped his children with various building projects, spent several years helping on various building projects with the Habitat For Humanity program. He also volunteered at the House of Compassion for several years, was a member of the St. Mary Funeral choir, and did various painting jobs in the Church as well as the rectory. He was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoyed being with the people he rode with. He was a long-time member of a country music band, The Last Chance. He loved all types of music. Bob is survived by his wife Charlene, six children: Robert C. (Ruth) Jacobson, Marshalltown, Donald B. (Eva) Jacobson of Waterloo, Lori Ann (Vince) Frederick of Marshalltown, Richard A. (Maureen) Jacobson of Grimes, John C. (Becky) Jacobson of Marshalltown, Suzanne (Malcolm) Showalter of Ankeny. 19 Grandchildren, 15 Great Grandchildren. Proceeded in death by: Parents; Sisters, Connie Geerdes and Maryann Deeter; and Granddaughter Gaynelle Frederick.