Edwin T. Jacob

Edwin Thomas Jacob, 92, of McFarland, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Alden Estates in Jefferson.

Edwin was born on April 30, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan the youngest of three boys (Melvin, Irvin & Edwin) of Arno and Minnie (Jurgens) Jacob. His father worked at the Chrysler Plant, his mother, a hydraulic plant during the war. Following his junior year at Cooley High the family moved to Wisconsin.  Edwin graduated 16 June 1950 at Madison East High School.  In 1951 he enlisted in the Wis. Air National Guard (176th Fighter Interceptor Sq.).  In 1952 he graduated as an “Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic” at Chanute Air Force Base (Illinois).  He enjoyed working on and being around airplanes, his favorite being the P51 Mustang.  Building upon this military training & experience, he obtained his civilian A&P (airframe & power-plant) certificate allowing him to work independently building / repairing aircraft.  He enrolled for flying lessons at Morey Field in Middleton & began building his own experimental airplane.  It was around this time that he also bought a small farm.  After meeting the requirements for solo flight, he commuted by plane from his farm to Morey Fld. for each lesson, using a portion of pastureland as a runway.  The last plane he owned & kept at home was a factory-built Cessna 140. Prior to his military service Edwin worked at Oscar Meyer (’51-2) as a meat packer and the Chicago/Northwestern Railroad as a fireman.   After several years Edwin attended vocational school for Auto Body Repair & was hired at a shop in Madison.  He enjoyed the challenges of auto-body work. 

On 5 June 1954, Edwin was united in marriage to Jeanne Gebert from Larwill, Indiana.  For their honeymoon they drove to Niagara Falls in a new ’54 Ford Sedan.  Travelling through Pennsylvania she noted in her “Trip Diary” numerous roadside stands selling “Goat Milk Fudge.”  The two would go on to enjoy 64 years together until Jeanne’s passing in 2018. God blessed Edwin and Jeanne with 5 children, Warren, Aaron, Lauri, Duc, and Dinh.  Edwin worked as a farmer for the majority of his life.  He was also a skilled carpenter and welder.  His fondest hobby was tinkering with and flying airplanes.  But most of all, Edwin was a loving husband and father, and he will be dearly missed.

He is survived by: his brother Ervin of Sun Lakes AZ, his children, Warren (Anna) Jacob of Pacific Palisades, CA,  Aaron (Cynnara) Jacob of McFarland, WI, Lauri Arndt of Poynette, WI, Duc (Quynh) Phan of Los Rancho, CA, and Dinh (Sarah) Phan of Atlanta, GA. Edwin is also survived by 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Jeanne, and his brother, Melvin.

Memorials in Edwin’s honor may be made to the McFarland Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.

Per Edwin’s wishes, no formal funeral service will be held. He will be laid to rest with his dear wife during a private family service.

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