Robert B. Jacobs, 96, passed away peacefully on Nov. 2, 2018, in Aurora, Colorado. He was born on Nov. 21, 1922, to Sam and Fanny Jacobs, Milwaukee. They were immigrants from Minsk, Russia. Bob was the sixth of seven children. In school he was a long distance swimmer, loved ice-skating and bowling. He also was a lifeguard on Lake Michigan.
In 1940 he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and earned a degree in mechanical engineering in three years. He was also a competitive swimmer in college, but had to choose between swimming and good grades. He left the team to follow his priorities.
In 1943 Bob was drafted into the Navy for officers’ training school. The Navy sent him to Columbia and Cornell for training because of his college degree. He was assigned as head of the engine room on an LST, which was the smallest oceangoing navy ship at the time. Later he moved to Chicago to work as a mechanical engineer at General Electric.
After six months Bob found that he neither liked working inside nor for GE and moved back to Milwaukee. He purchased a truck and started to pedal junk like his father did. After two years of peddling, he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, to visit an aunt and met his future wife. In 1948 he married Sylvia Neiden. They were married for almost 70 years. In 1960 he bought his own scrap yard in Columbus, Nebraska: Columbus Hide and Metal.
Bob and Sylvia worked together at the scrap yard as they raised their five children. His favorite saying to his children was “You get yourself into trouble, you get yourself out of trouble.”
Philanthropy played a big part in Bob and Sylvia’s lives, involving themselves in the Shriners, Masons, Eastern Star, Red Cross, Soroptimist, blood drives, etc. Bob would drive kids to the burn hospital in Minneapolis. A favorite volunteer effort of Bob’s was the Shrine Motor Corps and Jolly Wagon.
Bob and Sylvia would drive 90 miles to Lincoln for Shabbat services and every Passover extended an open invitation to their seder for anyone who needed a place to go.
Sylvia and Bob were avid travelers and visited 53 countries.
Robert (Bob) Jacobs leaves behind his wife, Sylvia Jacobs; sons and daughter: Ivan (Leslie) Jacobs, Mike (Anne) Jacobs, Elayne (Jim) Campbell, Sam Jacobs and Larry (Lisa) Jacobs; grandchildren: David (Shana) Jacobs, Aaron Jacobs, Mindy (David) Parmet, Robyn (Seth) Freiden, Joe Jacobs, Ben (April) Campbell, Suzanne Campbell, Joel (Brooke) Campbell, Austin Jacobs and Olivia Jacobs; and 13 great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Sunday, Nov. 4, at Temple Emanuel in Denver; interment at Emanuel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Masonic Lebanon Lodge 323 or Shalom Park Nursing Home in Aurora, or a charity of your choice.