Richard Emery Jacobs
1937 ~ 2025
Captain Richard ‘Dick’ Jacobs, age 87, of Spring Valley, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health in Eau Claire. Dick was born in Lakeside Township, Minnesota to Alden and Belle (Headley) Jacobs on October 31, 1937.
He graduated from Brainerd High School in 1955. Dick joined the Naval Air Reserve in January of that same year. He attended Brainerd Junior College from 1956 until 1958. After that he went to the Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, graduating in October of 1960. He was commissioned awarded his wings of Gold in the U.S. Marine Corps.
His initial post training assignment was to VMA-211 at El Toro Air Station flying the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. He was based at El Toro Air Station from 1960 to 1963. In late 1963 Dick was reassigned to Whiting Field in Milton, Florida as a flight instructor.
On October 16, 1965, Richard Jacobs married Ann Goedert in a military wedding in Jacksonville, Florida. His next assignment was with VMA-332 in Beaufort, South Carolina where his first child, Fred, was born in 1966. Shortly thereafter Dick deployed to Chy Lai, Viet Nam with VMA-311. At one point, in March of 1967, he was assigned as forward air controller. In 1968, now Major Richard Jacobs was released from USMC active duty allowing him to pursue airline employment.
Dick was hired by Northwest Airlines on October 07, 1968. By this time Ann Jacobs had given birth to their second son Eric. Dick’s career at NWA began as a Boeing 727 Second Officer. By 1970 his seniority group was hit hard by layoffs. Not easily discouraged, Dick persisted and slowly marched up the NWA domestic career tract serving as second officer, copilot and captain on the Boeing 727, copilot and captain on the 757, and eventually copilot and captain on the DC-10. Approaching October 31, 1997, Dick hung up his uniform and stashed away his flight bag now approaching the FAA mandatory retirement age - 60 years.
Dick had a wonderful life. He enjoyed playing golf and flying his Cessna. One trip was actually to Alaska! He enjoyed being in the Civil Air Patrol in Bay City up here and at St. Augustine, Florida when he moved there to help Ann’s aging parents. He was not outwardly affectionate, but all knew how deeply he cared for us. After Ann’s parents passed, he moved back to Wisconsin because coming from different states, this area has always felt like ‘home’ the most.
Dick was a man with a deep faith. He faced the possibility of death many times in his lifetime, but always face the future with honor, integrity and courage – in all this courage. He truly believed “ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me”. He had a profound faith in Jesus! To quote Job, he would say “For I know that my Redeemer liveth”.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents and 6 brothers: Wayne, Clyde, Ervin, Zelmer, Loren, and Burrell; and 4 sisters: Helen, June, Lois Mack and Marvel Caouette.
Dick is survived by his wife Ann; sons Fred (Sandy) of Spring Valley; and Eric of River Falls; grandson Samuel and Jadon of Spring Valley; brothers: Harry Jacobs of Des Plaines, Illinois, and Jack Jacobs of Baxter, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Sandy Denkinger (Gary) of Virginia; Dot Goedert of Houston, Texas; and Lucy Keeling (Danny) of Frisco, Texas; and “chosen” family: Sue and Ashley Meland of Spring Valley; and Lee and Ann Lyon of Jacksonville, Florida. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
(~Jacobs family & Bill Day)