Jeffrey Paul Jacobs

Jeffrey Paul Jacobs, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2024, at the age of seventy-two. Born August 29, 1951, in Montebello, CA., to Victor and Joanne Jacobs, Jeff was an extraordinary man who excelled in strength of character, depth of intellect, and a servant’s heart. His greatest accomplishment was being a faithful follower of Jesus, which included being a devoted husband to his wife Cheryl for fifty-one years, setting the example of what it means to go the distance as a godly man.

Jeff spent forty years as a trial lawyer in both California and Washington states, using his verbal acumen, extensive knowledge of the law, and genuine concern for his clients to effectively procure justice in the complex and contentious courtroom environment. In short, he set things right, fixed what was broken, and helped to restore what had been lost. He prepared himself for this calling by earning a degree in Classics from UC Irvine in 1972 and a law degree from UCLA in 1975.

While he was a respected attorney, his real passion in life was flying. He earned his private pilot license at seventeen years old, and soon after became an instructor. In 2017 he was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration for 50 consistent years in flight. While he owned a variety of small planes over his flying career, his favorite was the Grumman Cheetah.

Jeff leveraged his love of flying with his gift of photography, seizing thousands of beautiful images from the sky that he shared with family and friends. He had a unique ability to capture with his camera lens the splendor of a simple moment.

He learned how to read classical Greek, play the acoustic guitar, and could drop a perfectly timed, hilarious one-liner on almost any situation that called for it. He also volunteered his many talents in the service of the various local churches he and Cheryl attended over the years.

Jeff leaves behind his wife Cheryl, his sons Tim (wife Judi) and Matt (wife Jesse), and grandchildren Ryan (wife Livi), Cambria, Madison, and Ivanna. They each knew him to be both brilliant and kind-hearted.

We grieve the loss of a man who built a strong and enduring family rooted in the grace of Jesus. However, we rejoice because, “…we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens… He who has prepared us for this very thing is God…” (2 Corinthians 5:1,5)

A celebration of Jeff's remarkable life will be held on August 24th at Compass Church, in Goodyear, AZ, at 10am.