William R. Jacobus' Obituary
William Roswell Jacobus, born March 1, 1920 passed away peacefully at the age of 91 surrounded by his family on October 18, 2011. He was the son of his late parents Elmer and Anna Jacobus of Centralia Washington, step mother Marie Jacobus, and preceded in death by brothers Donald Rombalski, Charlie Jacobus, Bert Jacobus, Raymond Jacobus, and sisters Helen Deitzer and Lenora Geist. He is survived by his wife of 69 years Maxine, whom he married January 22, 1942. They had three children Judy (Jerry) Grove of Hoodsport Washington, Beverly Sheppard of Puyallup, and Donald (Cheryl) Jacobus of Puyallup. Grandchildren Todd (Shauna) Sheppard of Bonney Lake, Scott (Cheryl) Norris of Puyallup, Ken (Deanne) Sheppard of Olympia, Kevin (Sarah) Norris of Puyallup, Chris (Stacie) Sheppard of San Diego Ca, Kimberly (Jesse) Kosa of Tacoma, Billy Norris of Hoodsport, and Matthew Jacobus of Puyallup. Great-grandchildren Kaylah Sheppard, Keith Sheppard, Kileigh Sheppard, Sydney Norris, Ethan Norris, Alex Norris, Hailea Kosa, Winston Sheppard, Tyler Jacobus, Jaden Kosa, Sophia Sheppard, Riley Jacobus and Reese Sheppard . He is also survived by Paula Sheppard (mother of Kaylah and Keith Sheppard) and his sisters of Centralia Washington Beverly (Carlton) Noyes and Ann Jacobus, and Edith (Pinkie) Hagedorn of Los Angeles, Ca.
William (Bill) Roswell Jacobus was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He joined the Civil Conservation Corps in 1935 and helped with the construction of White Pass. He began his working career at the Cammarano Bros. Beverage Company in Tacoma, Washington followed by Parker Paint Company in Tacoma running a delivery truck, and finally, 35 years at the Coca Cola Bottling Company on 38th Street in Tacoma where he was a deliveryman and subsequently promoted to the Special Events Division where he would construct and place Coke displays at various businesses and event locations. He worked for Coke for 35 years until a heart attack forced him to retire. He lived in Tacoma with his wife Maxine during their 69 years of marriage and both were constant companions until his passing. He loved to work with his hands building everything from room additions, carports, boats, boat replicas, working as a cabinet maker in his garage and finally, beautiful and ornate birdhouses. He was a skilled craftsman in every way making sure everything was built to his high standards of fit and finish.
Bill was a kind and tolerant man; quick to give a smile of approval and slow to anger if one of the kids was misbehaving. He had an unusual wit; joking frequently with a -Å"dry- sense of humor making everyone around him laugh sometimes unsure if they -Å"got- the joke. Many times it was the way his joke was presented was the funny part. He loved to fish with his wife, his father-in-law Carl, and his brother-in-law Carl Jr. at places like Neah Bay and La Push. He especially enjoyed steelhead fishing in local rivers catching so much fish that he and mom would tire of eating them and would give them to Judy, Bev, and Don. During retirement Bill and Maxine would travel south for the winter becoming -Å"Snow Birds- in their motor home visiting places in Southern California like Palm Desert and Parker Dam. They enjoyed road trips to parts of Arizona and to border towns in Mexico as well. Bill was an avid golfer playing sometimes five days a week while wintering south or three days a week playing golf with his buddies during the warmer months at home. He also enjoyed camping at the beach in Washington and clam digging with his family.
Bill was also an entrepreneur buying and renovating an old apartment complex, building a new single level complex and a townhouse style building. From there he and Maxine built a car wash and operated that until travel became their primary interest.
Bird watching was something he loved to do in his later years. He would look out the window at the bird feeder and smile as his feathered friends would fling seed seemingly everywhere; that always made him smile. He also enjoyed his two kitties Lily and Levi. Oftentimes there would be one cat on the top of his chair while the other on his lap.
Dad was a devoted family man, loved his wife, kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, so very humble and loving, and will be missed by everyone.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for the cure of Parkinson's disease or to the charity of your choice.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at his son Don's house at 2pm on November 6th, 2011.
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