LaVerne P. Jacobs

     LaVerne P. Jacobs, known by his friends as Vern — husband, father, grandfather, and special uncle to many nephews and nieces — died on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 in Sun City, Ariz.. He was 81.
     Vern was born June 13, 1934 in Loretto, Kan. to George and Veronica Jacobs.
     His childhood in Lacrosse is where his love of hunting and fishing began; throughout his life he would spend many weekends hunting in the fields of Kansas with lifelong friends and family.
     Shortly after high school, Vern enlisted in the Army and was sent for a tour in Germany. When he returned to Kansas from his tour in Germany, Vern married Velda Moyer and they decided start their life together in Great Bend, Kan. Vern began a career with the Kansas Department of Transportation and eventually was promoted which required moving to Topeka, Kan. Vern’s career with KDOT spanned 40 years and in 1992 he retired to spend more time golfing, hunting, and doing his favorite hobby, gardening. Vern was most proud serving in the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Command Sergeant Major, reluctantly retiring after 35 years of service.
     Vern will be remembered for his generosity, his ability to fix almost anything, coupons and deals, scratch tickets and lotto tickets, and a spectacular trip to Hawaii he took his family on for his 80th birthday. He loved golf, having people over and cooking for them, and his family most of all.
     Vern is survived by his wife of 57 years, Velda Jacobs; his three children, Linda Jacobs of Fort Worth, Texas, Patti Hack and her husband, Mike Hack, of Black Hawk, Colo. and Brad Jacobs and his wife, Kristy Jacobs, of East Helena, Mont.; his grandson, Jarett Hack, a baseball player in his Junior year at Emporia State University; and his sister, Mary Hemken of Katy, Texas.
     There will be a private military service at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Vern requested that his family and many friends in Sun City gather together for a Celebration of Life from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Fairway Recreation Center in Sun City, Ariz. Lunch will be provided and we can share our favorite memories of this amazing man together.
     Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Onbehalf.org, a nonprofit organization founded for wounded veterans to assist with basic expenses.
     Online condolences and shared memories can be made at
www.sunlandmemorial.com.
     Visit this person’s Guest Book at
www.yourwestvalley.com