Cecil F. Jacobs' Obituary
Cecil (Jake) F. Jacobs, 95, of Santee, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2017.Jake was born in Columbia, MO on December 14, 1921 to his parents, Forest Lee and Alice Ruth (Powell) Jacobs. His childhood was spent on the farm with his two brothers and sister and included attending a one-room schoolhouse. At the age of 17, he inquired about joining the Navy, and was told to return after his 18th birthday. Days after Jake turned 18, this is exactly what he did. One day in 1944, a young lady with a winning smile caught Jake’s eye. On July 7, 1945, Jake married the love of his life, Bernice in Kansas City, KS near where his parents were living. (They chose the 7th because that was the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which he survived.)They newlyweds lived in Boston, MASS until Cecil was discharged from the Navy.They left there on December 23, 1945 for an adventurous cross-country trip to the west coast, arriving in January of ‘46 in National City where Bee’s father was living.Their first home was on Florida Street in San Diego then to a new neighborhood in the area of 54th & Redwood then to Pacific Beach and finally to Lakeside in 1956 with their two children, David and Barbara.Jake enjoyed traveling with his beloved wife in their motor home across the country – visiting all 50 states and Canada. He was deeply involved with the Heartland Masonic Temple for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church for over 50 years. In addition, he was an active member of the local chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Jake enjoyed camping, woodworking, fishing, and most importantly spending time with his family.Known as part of The Greatest Generation, Jake served our country faithfully in the United States Navy. He joined the Navy to learn a trade and to see the world. Jake’s most memorable moment while serving in the Navy was his assignment to the 6th Division (The Deck Force) on the U.S.S. Tennessee, which was bombed just shy of his 20th birthday at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was above turret #2 with his crew of three men as a spotter for gunfire. When the Japanese planes came in dropping torpedoes, he recalls the planes flying so low that he could see the pilots. In the midst of the chaos and surprise, a bomb hit the turret right below where he was standing. It missed him and his crew but killed five men below him. The Tennessee took another bomb hit during the second wave, which blew the mast off of the ship. He remembered spending hours and hours helping to dig sand and debris out of the concrete piers, which were eventually dynamited, in order to head back to the mainland in the United States for repair. He then began training his crew of about 20 men as spotters on how to recognize enemy ships and planes.Another story that he shared about his time in the Navy was seeing a boat that had just capsized as it was going to shore for liberty. He told his engineer that theyneeded to go toward the sailors who were stranded in the water, took over the steering, and began the rescue. He picked up five men with a cargo net and took the men to another ship nearby. When he finally got back to The Tennessee, he recalls being so cold that he couldn’t feel his hands or body, and they had to be pulled onto the ship by a cargo net themselves.His time in the Navy took him through the Panama Canal over a dozen times, to countries such as England, Panama, Columbia, Peru, much of the Pacific Coast, and Nicaragua to name a few. On December 23, 1945, Jake was honorably discharged in Boston, MA, which ended his Navy career. With humor, he said he had better things to do…which he meant raise a family.After the Navy, Jake served 33 years at Conrock Concrete Company. He started as a dispatcher and eventually became the head of the collection department. He used his GI Bill to go back to night school, which helped in his occupational goals.Jake enjoyed making memories and telling stories. In fact, his story telling will be greatly missed. He shared memories from childhood, the war, life as a father of two young children close together in age, and about the different organizations that he chose to help. He was a very steady and sensible man – and always took the time to do things the right way – never including a short cut. Jake had a strong work ethic and was rarely, if ever, idle.Jake is survived by his son, David L. Jacobs and his wife, Cindy; Son – in – Law, Ed Underwood; grandchildren: Phillip, Angie and her husband, Barry, and Jason. 8 great-grandchildren, 2 great – great grandchildren, 4 nieces and other extended family members.He has been greeted in Heaven by his parents, his wife, Bernice, and his daughter, Barbara.Service to celebrate Jake’s life will be held on September 11, 2017 in the Salli Lynn Chapel at Greenwood Memorial Park at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Bob Mentze, officiating.
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