Donald Keith Jacobs

He passed into eternity February 27, 2026, in the home of his daughter Vickie in Lake Forest, California.

What can we say about Don? Born in the backwoods of Wisconsin, Don became quite the globetrotter, living in Wisconsin, Indiana, Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base California, Hawthorne, CA, Torrance, CA, Lancaster, CA, and finally Lake Forest, CA. Along the way he met and married Caroline Ruth Bean in 1955 and made her a Jacobs. Together they raised 9 children with equal parts love, tested patience, and chaos.

Don was preceded in death by his oldest son Ronald, Caroline his wife, and his daughter Mary Ann, his parents Darrell and Mary Jacobs, his Sister Eileen May (Spencer) and brothers Lyle Dewey, Darrell Henry, and Michael Lee. He is survived by his children, daughters Beth (Ercek), Vickie (Morgan), Kristy (Tittle), Sandra (Strawn), Susan (Mahkorn), Jenny (Butler), and son Keith, as well as his sister Judith (Hutchinson) and brother Willis. He also had 22 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren along with beloved nieces and nephews.

An innate charmer and a man of “infinite jest” with a large personality, Don – Dad – greeted everyone with enthusiasm, could make any stranger a friend, and gave advice to everyone whether they wanted it or not. There was always room at the dinner table for another mouth to feed, and Sunday’s tradition of tacos and chili included guests from all over. A natural storyteller, Dad could bend your ear with stories from his youth, some of them even true (especially his pig joke). Though we are glad our Dad is with our Mom, we will miss him, his jokes, his grand ideas, his advice, his affection, and his friendship.