Verna Jacobs

Verna Joann Jacobs passed away on May 16, 2025, at the youthful age of eighty-nine. She leaves behind her husband, August (Jake) Jacobs, and two children, Dr. Christine (Donald) Buehler of Peoria, Illinois, and David (Rita) Jacobs of Morton, Illinois. Verna has two granddaughters Emily (Sergio) Rivera of Morton, Illinois, and Anna (Kevin) Noel of Woodstock, Georgia and one great grandchild who affectionately calls her Gigi. Verna was born July 3, 1935, to Albert and Antoinette (Eising) Blaesing in Quincy, Illinois. Her two brothers Paul and Al Blaesing preceded her in death.

When Verna was three, her parents purchased the 15-acre farm east of Quincy. Verna’s father, uncles and two older brothers built the family home before Paul and Al left and later returned safely from WWII. In this home, she loved her life and raised her own family. The family farm was a fun place to visit for grandchildren, grand-dogs, nieces and nephews, neighborhood children, and church choir kids.

Verna and her husband, Jake, devotedly shared their time and talents with the families of St Joseph Catholic Church where Verna was organist, and youth choir director for over 50 years. Her talent to encourage parishioners of all ages to participate in song before 8:00 AM Sunday Mass was a miracle to experience. Verna and Jake also taught eighth grade religion, encouraging adolescents to question and objectively investigate their faith and their place in it. Verna’s organizational talents allowed her to create and produce the weekly bulletin and organize and distribute seasonal marketing for church events. It was common for us to have mass at our home and serve meals to Franciscan priests and seminarians at our family table. There was no ranking of church and family because they were one.

Verna initially attended a one-room schoolhouse risking life and limb to attend daily. She graduated from St. Rose Catholic Grade School and then Notre Dame High School where she met the friend, whose family she would keep for a lifetime. She worked as a legal secretary and after attending John Wood Community College worked as a bookkeeper for several Quincy businesses. She enjoyed working as a personal assistant until her retirement at the age of eighty-six. She was a volunteer at various community organizations, an avid reader and shrewd financial investor. Her energy was endless, her smile contagious and her character infallible. She began piano lessons at age 7 and continued to play piano and organ throughout her life at church services, as an accompanist for high school music contests, and for masses at eldercare homes in Quincy. She bravely chaperoned school and orchestra bus trips to Chicago and D.C. Her chocolate chip cookies forged friendships and lasting memories.

At home, Verna managed and canned the abundance of a 2-acre garden and grove of fruit trees. The family farm demanded caring regularly for cows, chickens and occasionally sheep and homing pigeons. She cared for both aging parents, many aging relatives, raised two children and nurtured the neighborhood children who became part of our family. She ran a tight ship but always stopped to bake brownies and make lemonade after a dip in the pond with the neighborhood kids who were sitting in their wet swimsuits on the family room carpet. There was no ranking of work and family because they were one.

Verna and Jake were married at St Joseph’s Catholic Church June 11, 1960. They met through mutual friends and fell in love on a boat on a river. Their love was blind (and sometimes deaf) and their commitment to each other unquestioned. She spent her retirement years with Jake at Lutheran Hillside Village where she was still making friends, attending chair yoga, and playing the piano accompaniment for a resident choir.

We will celebrate her funeral mass at St Francis Catholic Church in Quincy, Illinois on Saturday June 28, 2025, at 11:00 with a church visitation one hour prior to the mass. The graveside service for her family will be at Calvary Cemetery. A Memorial service will also be shared at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria Illinois on Friday May 30 at 9:00 AM at their chapel.

Please direct donations to St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, 1721 College Ave. Quincy, Illinois 62301 or Lutheran Hillside Village, 6901 North Galena Rd, Peoria, Illinois 61614.