Owen “Jake” Jacobs died suddenly at his home in Wild River Ranches (in Evanston) on Friday, June 29. He was born May 20, 1947, in Baker City, Oregon, the son of Clarence LeRoy Jacobs and Mildred Helen Burnett Jacobs.
Jake’s early years were spent on the family ranch in Oregon. He enlisted in the Navy in 1967, and he was honorably discharged in 1970. During his naval career, he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, and at Miramar Naval Station in southern California. While at Miramar, he was an air traffic controller.
After leaving the Navy, he went on to college and graduated from Oregon State University. After graduation he went into the cattle business. In the early ’80s, he moved to Evanston and went to work in the oil and gas industry with Amoco. Later, he and Eileen opened the Book Nook in the Blyth & Fargo building until 1996 when he left to work in the oil and gas industry as an independent contractor.
While living in Evanston, Jake was very active in the community and Catholic church. He was a volunteer at YAHA and received the volunteer of the year award. He was also one of the people instrumental in organizing the re-enactment of the Great Endurance Horse Race from Evanston to Denver in the early 1990s. Jake eventually moved to Denver, where he went to work for Encana until his retirement in June of 2013.
On September 3, 2011, he married Mary Block at their home in Wild River Ranches, where he resided until the time of his death.
Jake enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, golf, and he was an avid reader. He had a great love for the outdoors. His love for the wide open spaces is why he chose living in Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado. He loved horses and dogs. Everywhere Jake went he would have a Boston terrier by his side.
Jake was a fascinating story teller, a writer of poetry, and always appreciated a good party. He was a spiritual man and because of his heritage, he was extremely interested in the Native American culture and as a result he spent time on reservations and became accomplished at playing the Indian flute. Jake was an honorable, loving, and caring man.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents and the late Eileen Downs Jacobs. He is survived by his wife, Mary Block; stepdaughters, Christy Roberts, Julie (Rhett) Puder and their sons Harrison and Mack; one sister, Carol Jacobs and her husband Burke O’Brien; one nephew, Justin (Wendy) Attaway and their children Ryan and Jonathon; one niece, Angie and her husband Sean and their children Mesa and Jay Lee.
Jake’s family, many friends and colleagues will mourn his passing. He was a real cowboy!
A Celebration of Life for Jake will be held during the Labor Day weekend.
