Robert Jacob

Robert (Bob) L. Jacob
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Robert L. Jacob (76) will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2008 with the Reverend John S. Smylie officiating and Deacon Leigh Earle assisting. Cremation will be completed with interment in the Columbarium of St. Mark's directly after the service.
He died March 16, 2008 at his home in Casper, WY with his loving family at his side. He fought a long illness with an ailing heart.
He was born at home on February 27, 1932 to John and Selma Jacob of Cozad, NE. The "mother's helper" who assisted with his birth is Sadie Abood George (96), now of Omaha, NE. Sadie was his godmother when he was baptized at St. George's Eastern Orthodox Church in Kearney, NE, a church his father helped establish.
His parents were immigrants from Deirmimass, Lebanon. He was proud of his Lebanese heritage. When he was on the faculty at Casper College, he befriended many students who came to CC from Middle Eastern countries. He was an exceptionally good host who delighted in serving Lebanese dishes to dinner guests.

He was a man of the Twentieth Century who marveled at the changes that computers and the Internet were making in society. As a child, he experienced the Great Depression and WWII during which he lost an elder brother, Edward. After he graduated from Cozad H.S. in 1949, he operated the family farm at Willow Island, NE for five years while two older brothers were serving in the Korean War. After his brothers returned, Bob took his turn, serving in the U.S. Army as a radio operator. He was stationed at Fort Carson, CO and Camp Hale in the Colorado Rockies.
After receiving an honorable discharge, he was eligible for college funds through the G.I. Bill, so he enrolled at Kearney State Teachers' College where he earned a B.S. in Business Education in 1959. For three years he taught high school business classes first at Maywood, NE and then Peetz, CO. Then he enrolled in a Masters of Business Education program at Denver University. He taught at Littleton H.S. for two years while he completed his graduate course work, and then he took a position teaching accounting at Casper College in 1965. He continued his academic studies by taking doctoral level courses at Denver University, Arizona State University, and Colorado University. He maintained a part-time accounting and tax practice for 25 years.

He was a member of the Casper Kiwanis Club, the Casper College Faculty Association, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and Casper Interfaith Council. When he lived in Colorado and Nebraska, he was active in the the Lions' Club, Masonic Lodge, and Toastmasters' Club. For many years, he served as accountant for the Central WY Boy Scout Council, and he was a long-time supporter of the BSA.

On July 2, 1966, he married Shirley Patch of Denver, CO and Buffalo, WY. The couple moved to Casper, WY where Shirley joined him on the faculty at Casper College. Together they raised two children. They have 10 grandchildren, all of whom Bob deeply loved. He valued hard work, honesty, duty and responsibility to his family and friends, and service to his church and community. He believed in education as a path to a better life. He was a good neighbor and friend who enjoyed convivial laughter and good conversation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Selma Jacob; two adopted brothers, Sam and Charlie Jacob of Lansing MI, and four brothers, Edward, Joseph, Milford, and Abe Jacob of Cozad, NE; two sisters, Edna Jacob of Lincoln, NE and Cozad, NE and Hazel Jacob Korrey of Iliff, CO.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Patch Jacob of Casper, WY; his son, Ryan Jacob and wife of Casper, WY; his daughter, Alaine Watson and husband of Casper, WY; two sisters, Carolyn Keech and husband of Overland Park, Kansas, and Lena Yanney and husband of North Platte, NE; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Barth Jacob of Cozad, NE; numerous nieces and nephews; and ten grandchildren.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be given to St. Mark's Church Foundation, Casper College Foundation, or Central WY Hospice.