Mr. Charles "Jake" Leroy Jacobson

Charles “Jake” LeRoy Jacobson died peacefully on May 5, 2026, at Osage Beach Rehabilitation Center surrounded by his daughters and family. Private graveside services will be held on Aug 8 at Memorial Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held Aug 8 from 2-5 pm at Reynolds Alumni Center 700 Conley Ave. (Mizzou/Informal attire).

Jake was born on Oct 17, 1936, to Charles and Fern Jacobson. Jake graduated from East High School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1954. He joined the Marine Corps in August 1954 and was honorably discharged in 1957. He received the National Defense Medal during his service.

After the Marines, Jake attended Grand View College in Des Moines and then earned his BS/MS at Drake University in 1965. He went on to coach women’s softball, basketball and gymnastics at Grand View from 1962-1979. He then moved his family to Columbia Mo where he started the women’s gymnastics program at the University of Missouri. He was inducted into the Mizzou Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a member of the Grand View Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted into the State of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. He was also inducted as a coach into the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Hall of Fame in 2024.

Jake married his loving wife, Nola Jean Smithson on Aug 8, 1959. They were married 61 years before Nola passed in 2020 due to complications from dementia. Together, Jake and Nola raised 3 daughters: Julie Sparks (Dale), Jackie Jacobson (Carl Slate) and Jill Marron (Tim). He is also survived by four grandchildren: Kyle Eades (Lindsay), Katelyn Sonka (Tyler), Cayla Larkins (Nick) and Courtney Clauss.

Jake was a master marketer and champion of women’s sports. He took Mizzou gymnastics to 3rd in attendance and gate receipts in only 3 years after moving to Mizzou. He was an avid golfer and loved telling stories about the “good ol’ days” when life was simple. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jim Jacobson.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in his name to the Mizzou Gymnastics Booster Club.

Condolences and fond memories can be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com