OBITUARY: Don E. Jacob

Don E. Jacob, 96, Valley Center, lifelong farmer, passed away Feb. 28, 2023. He was born to Homer Jacob and Clarice Bright Jacob on Oct. 9, 1926, in his grandparents’ home on North Park in Valley Center. He attended Prairie Queen School, rural Valley Center, and graduated from Valley Center High School in 1944

As a young boy, he was active in 4-H. A lifelong farmer/stockman in the Valley Center area, he raised cattle, sheep and hogs, as well as wheat, corn, milo and soybeans. He also liked to have a garden. In his lifetime, he saw farming advance from mules and horses to computerized machinery. He also told about shipping cattle by train and riding the train to Chicago.

On March 7, 1948, he married Helen Jean Hemme. They were married for 61 years when she passed away in 2009. To this union, Don and Jean had five children. He loved his family and was a friend to all he met. Everywhere he went, he ran into someone he knew. He loved to hear and tell a good joke or story. He was also a very kind and generous person to family and friends.

He served on the Valley Center Township board for 40 years as the treasurer. To help supplement the farm income, he worked different jobs in the winter. In 1968, he started working at the Valley Center Farmers Elevator as a truck driver, delivering feed to local farmers. He continued to farm, as well. He was elevator operator until he retired in 1993. The elevator was part of the Andale Co-op when he retired.

An animal lover, he was attacked by a badger when he was a boy. In later years, he tried to fight off pitbulls that attacked and killed his pet terrier, Dixie.

He liked to play pitch with his family and friends. Watching sports on TV was one of his favorite things to do, and he was a fan of KU, WSU, K-ST, the KC Chiefs and the KC Royals. He also liked to keep up with Valley Center football and basketball.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean; a granddaughter, Allison Jacob; grandson, Don Wilson; his brothers, Bob and Larry; and son-in-law, Officer Danny Laffey.

Don is survived by his children, Judy (Dale) Wilson, Nancy Laffey, Keith (Laurie) Jacob, Ken (Becka) Jacob and Jim (Tish) Jacob; grandchildren, Scott (Anne) Wilson, Billy Wilson, Erin Glassman, Kate Jacob, Bret (Casey) Jacob, Danielle (Dave) Marten, Ashley Jacob, Brittany (Nick) Thomas, Wesley (fiance Kylie Ingalls) and Joe Jacob (fiance Jessica Gorges); great-grandchildren, Tyler Wilson, Jason Wilson, Kaytee Bratton, Kelsey (Jacob Dunsworth) Bratton, Preston Bratton, Gabbi Wilson, Gavin Wilson, Mya Marten, Elin Glassman, Emery Glassman. Emmit Jacob, Ewan Jacob, Hudson Robert’s, Bryn Roberts, and Sloane Thomas; great-great grandchildren, London Bratton, Raelynn Dunsworth and Dalton Dunsworth; brother, Wayne Jacob; special friend, Betty Fry; many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

A special thanks to Rivercross Hospice – Wichita, Kansas.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 9. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 10, and both will be at the Valley Center First United Methodist Church. Graveside following the service at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Bentley/Sedgwick. Memorials to the First United Methodist Church, 560 N. Park, Valley Center, KS, 67147.

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