Orville K. Jacobs

Orville K. Jacobs “Jake” May 29,1930 – April 20,2019 Orville was born in Alliance, NE during the Dust Bowl/Depression Days to George and Anna (Jurgens), the youngest of seven children. The family resided in Sidney, NE. He remembered: prairie dogs and rattlesnakes at the bluffs, getting caught in a dust storm playing soldiers with his brother George, taking lunch to his brother Martin at the pesticide factory and saving cereal box tops to earn ‘George Armstrong, All-American Boy’ trinkets. He will never forget sitting around the radio for World War II news. His brothers Alfred & Martin were in the service. His sisters Amelia and Marie served at the North Platte RR canteen. The family had a strong Lutheran heritage and decided Jake would attend Concordia College in Seward, NE. At age 13 he moved to Concordia’s boarding school and received his high school, BA and MEA degrees there. He remembered: Martin coming by motorcycle to get him for Thanksgiving in freezing weather, Orv clinging to his brother trying to stay awake; football and track, good friends, strict freshman hazing, and summers spent hitchhiking to the Gulf, hiring on with a harvesting crew and working the wheat harvest into Canada before returning to school in the Fall. Most notable at Concordia was LaVerda Haase from Denver, CO. She remembers the shy cute guy who seldom spoke but ,“when he did, it was always interesting.” After student teaching in Sidney (to many of his nieces and nephews!) and Omaha he was graduated and married in 1954. Jake and Dolly considered taking a year to travel around the country. But he had a call to teach in Saginaw, MI, where they moved and started a family of 4 girls in 5 years. After 7 happy years they moved to Colorado to be closer to family. The girls remember Dad driving, driving, driving the old station wagon with a U-Haul in tow. It was a brave step leaving a secure job for an unknown future. After settling in Orv returned to teaching and remained with Denver Public Schools for 30+ years. He and Dolly purchased a house in Arvada. Over the years he built a rock garden, basketball court, back porch and finished basement with 2 BR, Ba and a rec room that hosted many fun parties. It wouldn’t be unusual to have 20 rambunctious kids in the basement while the adults sat upstairs playing cards, followed by huge potluck meals. He did all the work himself and kept the furnace room for an office (the original man cave). The best add-on at Otis Street? Their fifth child in 1963 – a boy named Paul Martin, in honor of Orv’s brothers ! Years flew by with school, activities of 5 children, family, friends. All was anchored by his dedication and work with Faith Lutheran, and in later years Bethlehem. He was on the National Board of Good Shepherd Lutheran Home for mentally disabled children. He was a SS Superintendent and a staunch supporter of the children. He led Bethel Bible,LifeLight and a worship ministry at Covenant House for retirees. He was a ‘Founding Father’ of the Jeffco Jets, girls AAU track and field team (started by a group of dads wanting equal opportunity for their daughters). He brought home students who had nowhere to go over Holidays. He was a school rep during the 1969 DCTA teacher strikes and worked on busing issues during desegregation, always looking for compromise and equality. Jake was thrilled to retire and had many active years traveling with Dolly, playing senior sports with No.Jeffco, helping out his family and extended family, enjoying his 4 grandchildren, and never quite getting around to writing that book or two he had countless notes and thoughts about. As Dolly’s dementia progressed he cared for her at home as long as was possible. For 65 years they worked as a team and loved one another deeply. Orville was a quiet man who never hesitated to be vocal about being fair, honest, and looking at both sides of an issue. He had a gentle laugh, and a sense of wanderlust and adventure. Up until his passing just shy of 89 years he was reliable, strong, stubborn and independent, and had biceps and calves a 20-year-old would be envious of! He epitomized his stoic, hard-working German Lutheran roots. He loved windmills and clouds and the wide-open Nebraska Prairieland. He was a faithful, loyal Christian man. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings (Amelia, Alfred, Martin, Marie, Laura, George). He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Laverda, children and grand-children. We lived with him, learned from him and will always love and miss him, LaVerda, Cindy & Mark Churchill, Jacey and Warren; Cathy; Cheryl; Carol & Dean Kapsalakis; Paul & Tricia Jacobs, Hunter and Tanner. Memorial Service: Saturday, August 3,2019 The Graham House & Park: 2345 Routt St. Lakewood, CO 80215 Reception: remember and honor Jake with family and friends from 5 – 7pm. Light food and drink. “Heimgang” Sunset Service: 7pm Led by Rev. Merlin Jacobs Jake loved an old Spiritual, “Going Home” and requested it be sung at his passing. Heimgang is German for “going home” or “passing”. To plan for parking and food please let us know if you will be joining for any/all of Saturday’s remembrance. okj3019@gmail.com or 443-831-0249. We would love to see you! Memorial contributions may be made in Orville’s name to Colorado Reading Corps: youthforachange.org (specify Reading Corps and Orville Jacobs in comments section) or to a charity of your choice.