Kenneth W. 'Jake' Jacobs

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Kenneth Wayne Jacobs, probably better known as Jake, Kenny, or Papa. Regardless of how you knew him or what you called him, he was much loved and respected by many. He was born to parents Ruthie and Herbert Jacobs on April 8, 1939 in Maysburg, MO and served a fulfilling 72 years before peacefully departing this life on November 9, 2011 in his own home where he has been continually surrounded with love and family.
Kenny attended Creighton High School and graduated in May of 1957, but not before meeting his wife, Shirley May Cumpton, whom he wed on August 24, 1957. A few years later they welcomed their first son, Scott; a couple years later they became proud parents of twins, Dennis and Diana.
Kenny had a remarkable work ethic. He spent several years working in construction and building homes. He was a traditional handyman who could fix a roof and everything underneath it. He happened to be hell on a tractor too. It wasn’t unusual to find him helping out neighbors, friends, and family with minor or major projects from brush hogging to fixing a toilet or a door to putting up walls for a new home or building. But he seemed to find his true calling serving as a firefighter with the Kansas City Fire Department for 15 years. This is where he became best known as Jake. He worked at Stations 36, and 10. He was in on the action which included driving the truck, manning the hose, braving burning buildings, and saving lives. After falling three stories in a building, he had a knee injury, but that did not stop his service with the fire department. During his career as a firefighter, he served in a variety of roles including protector, leader, teacher, mentor, and even chef. It was the role of chef that led him to become an entrepreneur following his retirement from the KCFD in 1982. He opened his own restaurant, Andi’s Attic, and operated it out of the 2nd story of his home from 1996-1999. People near and far would come to get a taste of those delicious country ribs and that perfectly smoked shaved ham. He was an artist in the kitchen, developing personal recipes from scratch. However, his grandkids might argue that his simple “yellow bread” that accompanied his hot dogs with mac and cheese could not be topped.
The gap between Kenny’s retirement and managing his own business was filled with family. He became the proud Papa of five granddaughters who each held an incredibly special place in his heart. They learned mottos such as “If at first you don’t succeed, do it like Grandpa told you.” He was supportive and encouraging and so remarkably proud of each of them and their endeavors. He enjoyed making them laugh, pulling their loose teeth when they were least expecting it, and teaching them life lessons like, “Sometimes you have to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear.” His granddaughters were his pride and joy. In the last years of his life, he especially enjoyed babies. With perfect timing, he met his first great grandchild—a boy amidst all of his girls. He was the best Papa a girl (or boy) could have.
Kenny also enjoyed traveling to Pomme de Terre Lake, running trot lines in the Grand River, hunting for morel mushrooms, driving the back roads enjoying the scenery, and starting projects within or around his home from remodeling to planting a strawberry patch. He got very involved with the Sherwood Marksmen Marching Band for over five years; he utilized his trailer to store the instruments and uniforms, and traveled with the band to parades and competitions. He would also provide a meal for the students to enjoy before or after their performance. Following this, he became involved with the Duck Lodge developing and maintaining the property for the owners to enjoy. Whatever it was that he was involved in, he was known as a “do-er,” a visionary that could make things happen. He certainly enjoyed opportunities to be his own boss. You might have even heard him say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I wasn’t the foreman either.”
In his last years, he is remembered as the tall, handsome, blue eyed gentleman with a bright smile, a kind laugh, the most firm handshake in the world, and just the right amount of stubbornness. He maintained appreciation for the little things, and he enjoyed watching nature, eating Andi’s meals, playing with his puppies, listening to Merle Haggard, reminiscing with old pictures, sitting with family, and tightly hugging his girls. It is these things that we will miss most about our Papa. And it is these things that remind us how blessed we are to have shared in the life of such a remarkable man.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, and by his wife, Shirley. He is survived by many relatives, friends, and family including: six brothers, Hobart Jacobs and wife Lorraine of Belton, MO, Donnie Jacobs and wife Donna of Camden Point, MO, Bob Jacobs of Creighton, MO, Richard Jacobs and wife Rehnee of Harrisonville, MO, and Charles Jacobs and wife Jody of Roscoe, MO, two sisters, Betty Leon of Blue Springs, MO and Mary Ann Cox of Urich, MO; three children, Scott Jacobs and wife Andi of Creighton, MO, Dennis Jacobs and wife DeEtta of Kansas City, MO, and Diana Thompson of Creighton, MO; five granddaughters, Crystal Davison and husband Chris of Lee’s Summit, MO, Jessica Jacobs of Creighton, MO, Camille Varnum and husband Jeremy of Independence, MO, Karman Thompson of Creighton, MO, and Callie May Jacobs of Grandview, MO; two step granddaughters, Katie Kleinow of Kansas City, MO and Allison Kleinow of Columbia, MO; and two great grandchildren Dallas Joe Weir and Annabelle Grace Varnum both of Independence, MO.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 13, 2011 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City, Missouri with interment in the Dayton Cemetery near Garden City.
Family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the chapel.