Roland C. Jacobs

Roland Carl Bernhard Jacobs, 97, of Lakeside, Ohio, and formerly of Elmore, Ohio, died Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Genoa Care Center, Genoa, Ohio. Earlier the same day, he had been transferred there from Otterbein North Shore Retirement Community in Lakeside where he had lived since 1999. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on February 17, 1914, the son of Emil C. & Elsa (Lambrecht) Jacobs. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Wisconsin where his father was a parochial school teacher at churches in Morrison, Manitowoc, and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Roland began school at age four, attending classes taught by his father. In 1928, the family moved to Frankfort, Germany, where Roland attended the Liebig Oberrealschule. In 1929, Roland returned to the United States alone to attend high school and college at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. where he graduated as head of his class in both high school and college studies. After college graduation, he began his career in parochial schools of the Wisconsin Synod of the Lutheran Church, serving as teacher and principal in Lutheran schools in Oshkosh, Juneau, and Fond du Lac. An accomplished pianist, organist, and choir director, he also served these roles in each church where he taught school. On April 12, 1936, he married the former Audrey Marian Hoffman of Oshkosh, WI. In 1947, he and his family moved to Ohio, living briefly in Cleveland and then in Elmore, where he lived for 51 years. In Elmore, he established an insurance agency for the Aid Association for Lutherans, holding positions as District Representative and General Agent. He retired in 1976. Closely associated with Trinity Lutheran Church, Elmore, he was also a member and president of the Board of Directors of the Luther Home of Mercy, the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Layman's League, the Lutheran Hour Operating Committee, and many other district, state, and national Lutheran committees. Following his wife's death on April 19, 1999, Roland moved to the Otterbein North Shore Complex. While living there, he participated in many activities and was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2004. He is survived by his sister, Kathryn (Douglas) Powell, Fairfield Glade, TN; children, Karen Haensch of Elmore, Ohio; Nadine (Rev. George) Klima of Joliet, IL; Robert (Marjorie) Jacobs of Van Wert, OH; and Wendy Ramos of St. Thomas, USVI; 8 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and a host of beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Audrey; brother Paul Jacobs; sister, Margaret Bramblet; grandson, Mark McKay; and son-in-law, Richard Haensch. Roland will be remembered by his family, church, colleagues, and community for his wisdom, insight, intelligence, talents, generosity, and graciousness. Throughout his life, he has been a strong Christian role model to all. His smile and warmth have been contagious. The family will receive friends from 2-9 P.M. Thursday at Crosser Funeral Home, Elmore-Genoa Chapel, 19550 West State Route 51, where the family will be present from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Due to construction at Trinity Lutheran Church, funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elmore. The Rev. Stephen Lutz will officiate, and interment will be in Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery, Elmore, OH. The family suggests that in lieu of floral tributes, memorial contributions may be made to the Roland Jacobs Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Crosser Funeral Home or Karen Haensch, 253 Jackson St. Elmore, OH 43416. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home - Elmore-Genoa Chapel 19550 West State Route 51 Elmore, OH