Janis Dean Jacobs

Janis Dean Jacobs, beloved wife, mom, grandma, great grandma and friend passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 5, 2021 in San Diego, CA. Jan lived a robust life full of family, friendships, travel, and sports. Deeply loved by her family and friends, she was known for her compassionate character, boundless energy, fun wit and sense of humor. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her.

Born in Sacramento, Jan grew up in the small Northern California town of Placerville where she had endless memories of her wonderful childhood. She went to the University of Pacific in Stockton where she met Will Jacobs, the love of her life. They married in 1959 and had recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. They had one daughter, Kelly. She was the center of Jan’s life and Jan was the center of Kelly’s life. Their special mother daughter relationship can only be described as a love affair for the ages.

They lived in Sacramento until 1981 when business opportunities took them to Southern California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Massachusetts until they retired to Arizona. Jan and Will moved to San Diego in 2004 to be close to Kelly, her husband Don Speer and all of the children.

Jan loved to play tennis and golf, workout at the gym (spinning classes were her favorite), plant flowers in her garden and especially loved beach vacations to Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. Above all else, Jan’s heart was full of love for her family, especially for her five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She cherished and loved them with every fiber of her beautiful being. These are the darlings that changed her name to Grandma Jan and then “GG” for great grandma. All of her focus, care and love was for her family so she leaves behind a family she taught to love and care for each other.

As she left this world, her fear of leaving her husband, daughter and family was eased knowing they are in good hands with Jan’s special friend…her son-in-law Don who promised her he would take over where she left off. Her legacy is one of love and she changed everyone she met. But the biggest and most important changes she made were in her family. They will miss her forever and she will be with them forever. She even had such a fun relationship with her three favorite pups Annie, Wallis and Sam that they are missing her along with the family.

Jan’s spirit lives on in her husband Will, Kelly and Don, her grandchildren Megan, Donnie, Ben (Meagan and her daughter Hazel), Chris and Tim (wife Elle), her great grandchildren Matthew, Jayce and Madison along with Jan’s brother Gary Robinson, his wife Sandy, their daughter Julie and her children Zachary and Joshua (wife Keleigh and son Theodore).

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or by calling 800-227-2345.