A Treasured Life; the life of John "Doc" Jacobs

The life of an amazing man began on Wednesday, October 14, 1903. His earthly life ended on Friday, March 6, 2009. This is the life of my wonderful Great Grandpa, John Theodore "Doc" Jacobs. It's hard for me to speak of him in the past tense, so I'm sure my verb tense will shift back and forth between the present and the past. Mr. Coleman, my high school Honors English teacher, please forgive me. I have so many fond memories from a great childhood that include many, many summer vacations to Tarentum, PA where my Grandma and Grandpa Walters, and Gram and Doc live(d). I grew up on the MS Gulf Coast and since both sets of grandparents lived in PA, my family would go nearly every summer for about two weeks to PA (some years my sister, Kim and I, (Bec and Meg weren't born yet) were able to stay longer). We would share the time between both sets of grandparents. My Mom's family lives/lived in Venango, PA and my Dad's family in Tarentum, PA. Our grandparents would travel about an hour each to meet in Grove City for the "meeting point" to swap my sister and I back and forth. It was always so much fun! At the time, there was only a gas station at the exit. Now there's an entire outlet mall! Wow, how times change. We would've wanted to have a day in Grove City for shopping if the outlet mall had been there back then! Luckily for all, it was just a gas station.

Spending time at Grama Lou and Grandpa Walters' home meant also spending valuable time at our great grandparents home--Gram and Doc's. They lived in the country, on top of a beautiful hill, up a long, long winding driveway. It's such a beautiful place even to this day. One of the highlights of going to Gram and Doc's was swimming in their huge built-in pool! Oh the memories there! I remember one particular 4th of July celebration we shared there at Gram and Doc's. I remember several of Uncle Rich's family also being there on this visit. We had fireworks and so much fun, laughter and fellowship. I remember sitting outside on the patio with all the "older" family members and just talking, laughing and reminiscing together. Of course we, the kids, would rock on the infamous "rocking rock" on the patio while all the "big people" talked. It was so much fun. We'd also play croquet, some kind of golfing-like game. We'd also sit in front of the Mother Mary statue that was in their front yard, complete with a bench and all---and sit and wonder at its significance. Later I learned the extreme importance of the Mother Mary and her importance in the Catholic Church. As a deeply faithful Catholic family, it was only fitting that Gram and Doc have a statue of Mary in their yard. I've always respected their faith and their traditions. My Grama Lou was the one who taught me the Lord's Prayer when I was just a little girl. I remember her telling me everynight in Aunt Jan's old room on 1st Avenue. She also taught me Hail Mary, about novenas, about the rosary, and about other Catholic traditions like not eating meat on Fridays during Lent.

Doc's life was so influential on every single person in our family. He was truly the patriarch of our family. He taught all of us not just through his words, but especially by his actions. He lived a noble, faithful, loving and admirable life. He loved our Lord Jesus and lived his life reflecting his faithfulness and reverence to Him alone. My dear, sweet great-grandpa, Doc, will be dearly missed by all.

Here is his obiturary that was posted in the "Valley News Dispatch," the local newspaper in Tarentum, PA.

John T. Jacobs
Fawn Township
John T. "Doc" Jacobs, 105, of Fawn Township, died Friday, March 6, 2009, at his home. He was born Oct. 14, 1903, in Brackenridge, a son of the late Peter Jacobs and Clara (Schnieder) Jacobs. He lived most of his life in Fawn Township. He was a general superintendent in the shipping department of the Du Plate division at PPG Industries, Creighton, for 30 years. He was also a licensed chiropractor and had an office at his home. He was the oldest member of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Blessed Sacrament Church, Natrona Heights. He was formerly a fireman at Fawn Township No. 1 and a longtime member of the MORA Club. He graduated from Tarentum High School in 1923 and was the last surviving member of his graduating class. He graduated from Palmer Chiropractic College in Iowa. He enjoyed wood working, yard work, was an avid reader and traveled extensively. Mr. Jacobs remarried at the age of 93, on his birthday. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Nora L. (Waterman) Smith Jacobs; a daughter, Louise (C.D.) Walters, of Fawn Township; son, Lt. Col. retired Richard K. (Lorelle) Jacobs, of Austin, Texas; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; stepsons, Brook David (Nancy) Smith, of London, Ky., and Blake Herrick (Lorrie) Smith, of Traverse City, Mich.; and two stepgrandchildren. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Gertrude T. "Trudy" (Keller) Jacobs, in 1987. Relatives and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the DUSTER FUNERAL HOME INC., Tenth Avenue at Corbet Street, Tarentum, 724-224-1526. Christian Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Natrona Heights. Burial will be in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Natrona Heights. The MORA Club will meet at 4 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Goodbye for now my sweet Doc, I can't wait to join you in heaven and live eternity together in the Presence of Jesus!

Happy 105th Birthday Doc!!

Where to begin? Wow, today is my great-grandfather's 105th birthday!! Can you believe it? I stumble to fathom the magnitude of this momentous occasion. There really aren't too many people who have a loved one who lives such a long and amazingly healthy life for so long! I am truly blessed....and I realize it. Although Doc's physical strength has begun to decline over the past year or two, he's still completely with-it mentally! What a huge blessing he is to me and our family. We're ever so thankful for this patriarch of our family. He's an amazing man of God, a well-grounded leader who offers each of us wise counsel, and has such a huge heart for so many. These are just some of his endearing qualities.

I called Doc today to wish him "Happy Birthday!" He was so happy to have survived to this amazing birthday! He said he's been following his philosophy: "Everytime you breathe out--be sure to breathe back in!" For those of you who don't have the pleasure of knowing Doc, this is just like him! He has such a spunky wit about him! Today, on his birthday, he was painting wooden blocks for children with numbers on them to help them with their counting and math skills. I believe the secret to his long, healthy life is the fact that he never lets his mind slow-down. He's always busy reading, watching the news, knitting and sewing booties for the "Gifts for the Unborn" charity his children (my Grama Lou and great Uncle Rich) began when their mother passed away in 1987. To date, he's personally made over 20,000 booties! To me this is just so amazing! He's been involved with a program called Elderhostels for about 20 years now. This has also been a great source of strength, wisdom, and quality of life for him in his later years. He also met his second wife there! Her name is Nora. She's a true sweetheart. She takes great care of our Doc and is always knitting and sewing booties too for the charity and is also involved in several other charities as well.

Gary and I went to visit my grandparents and Doc and Nora last year during Doc's birthday. We had a great visit! Doc was just as lively as ever and even drove himself and Nora over to my grandparent's house three miles away from their home. I have so many wonderful memories of going to my grandparent's homes in Pennsylvania during our summer vacations. Many of those memories include going over to Gram and Doc's and swimming in their great built-in pool! We used to have so much fun jumping off the diving board and just relaxing in the pool--all together my whole family (and extended family). I always love hearing Doc's "stories" of the good 'ole days. I also like reminiscing through the old family photo albums and hearing who is who and seeing all the old fashion styles and things of the past....those were simpler times it seems.

Doc's grandparents and parents were German. Doc has a copy of the immigration papers for his grandfather when he entered the United States arriving from Germany! In his home growing up, they spoke both German and English. He's such a well-educated man! His birth name is John Theodore Jacobs. But he was nicknamed "Doc" when he became a chiropractor. Since then the name has stuck. He was a chiropractor for a few years and then went to work in the Pittsburgh Steel Mill. This is where he made his career and eventually retired. He and my great-grandma traveled all over the world together after they reared their children. He's so full of stories....living through the depression, BOTH World Wars, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, 9-11, and the War in Iraq just to name a few.

I hope you enjoy some sweet pictures of this precious member of my family! We took these last year when we celebrated his 104th birthday.

What a legacy he's given us. Thank you Doc--I love you!