David George Jacobs

David George Jacobs, age 85, passed away peacefully at home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, with family by his side on Friday morning, September 8, 2023.

David was born March 14, 1938, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Ardell and Pauline (Kurtz) Jacobs.  He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1956. Attending Kalamazoo College, he met the love of his life, Sandra (Sandy) Haefner, in her hometown of Decatur, Michigan.  David later transferred to Western Michigan University to join Sandy, and after graduating with an accounting degree, they were married June 16, 1962 in Decatur.

After a short stint as an accountant, David was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and became a Weapons Controller.  This was the beginning of an outstanding career, which spanned over twenty-two years, taking him to numerous locations around the world to include Michigan, Mississippi, South Dakota, the Philippines, Texas, Australia, New Mexico, Korea, and Florida, where David eventually retired in 1984 at the rank of Major.  Along the way, David and Sandy had three children, Kathy, Scott, and Steven.

David enjoyed his military career, and all the places it took him and his family.  However, more than anything, he really liked working for himself.  After retirement, David owned and managed several rental properties, which kept him extremely busy, but it also gave he and Sandy the flexibility to travel and see the world.

David and Sandy had an abundance of friends and enjoyed bowling, dancing, kayaking, playing cards and, of course, traveling in their recreational vehicle.  They eventually got a second home in the Villages in north, central Florida, where they spent a great deal of time.  Despite there being over forty golf courses in the Villages and David owning two golf carts, they actually didn’t play much golf, but he and Sandy definitely enjoyed driving around, eating out, and looking at other homes…kind of a passion of theirs.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Ardell and Pauline Jacobs; his brother, Charles Jacobs; his sister, Mardell Arent; and his son, Steven Jacobs.  He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Sandy Jacobs; his daughter, Kathy Everett and her husband, Marshall Kenneth (Kenny) Everett; and his grandchildren, Hayley Everett and Kevin Everett, all of Kissimmee, Florida; his son, Scott Jacobs and his wife, Bridget (Shipley) Jacobs; and his grandchildren, Alyx Jacobs and Nygle Jacobs, all of Omaha, Nebraska.

David will be buried at the Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, Florida on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at a private, family graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.