Harold Raymond Jacobs, Sr., 103, of Urbandale, Iowa, passed away on Friday, December 24, 2021, a few months short of his 104th birthday. Harold was born in What Cheer, Iowa, to Clarence Albert and Clara Fern (Osborn) Jacobs on April 13, 1918. When he was five, the family moved to the Sherman Hills area of Des Moines and later to the eastside where he attended East High School. He moved to Urbandale in 1935 and lived in his present home for almost 70 years. Harold and Edna Breeden were united in marriage on August 26, 1943, while he was home on leave. They raised four children in Urbandale: son Harold Jr (deceased), daughters Debra, Susan, and Marla.
Harold worked as a truck driver hauling coal and gravel and at the Ordinance Plant in Ankeny prior to being inducted into the Army in May 1942. He served in the Army Signal Corps stationed in Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. When he returned to Iowa, he was employed at Great Lakes Pipeline (now Williams Brothers), Dental EZ Manufacturing, Economy Forms Products, and Delavan Corporation. He also did concrete work and construction. Harold meticulously cared for his home and yard. He loved gardening, growing, and selling tomatoes for many years. He also enjoyed woodworking, traveling, NASCAR, reading, especially WWII and history books.
Survivors include his three daughters, Debra Jacobs of Urbandale, Susan Batterton of California, Marla (Bob) Plurkowski of California, nine grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Edna in 2015, his son Harold Jr, his granddaughter Sherri Jacobs, his brothers Harry and Albert Jacobs, and his sisters Berniece Jones and Nora Breton.
The family would like to ask the attendees to wear mask.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50310, funeral will follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Chapel Hill Cemetery, also at 4400 Merle Hay Road address. A luncheon will follow the burial at a place yet to be determined.
For Live stream please go to https://player.vimeo.com/video/660510009 to watch the funeral.
Please direct any memorials to the Urbandale Fire Department. They were our “Guardian Angels” for so many years and were always so helpful and took such good care of Harold when we needed them. They were like part of the family.