Alan E Jacobs

Alan Eben Jacobs passed away peacefully at Regency Rehab and Nursing Center in Prineville, Oregon on July 3, 2021.  He was born April 19, 1926 to Ervin and Mable (Park) Jacobs in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.  The family, including sisters, Elaine, June, Vivian, Annabelle, and brothers, Ervin (Buster) and Richard moved to Lakeview, Oregon and then on to Bandon, Oregon.  Alan attended elementary school in Bandon and graduated as valedictorian from Bandon High School in 1943.  Alan began working at a young age, first as a dishwasher, then at the Bandon Cheese Factory, and then at the local lumber mill.

 

Alan joined the US Army in July 1943.  He was sent to engineering school at the University of Utah for one semester.  He was then sent to basic training, including radio school, at Camp Roberts in California, and then was shipped out to the South Pacific.  He was a member of the US 6th Army, 32nd Infantry Division (known as the Red Arrow), 120th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery C.  He fought in the New Guinea Campaign at Aitape and Hollandia, fought in the Southern Philippines Campaign at Leyte, as well as the Luzon Campaign on the Villa Verde Trail.  His primary position was as forward observer.  After the war ended, he was stationed on the Island of Kyushu, Japan.  At 19 years old, he was promoted to 1st Sergeant, the youngest 1st Sergeant in the 120th Field Artillery Battalion.

 

After Alan was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1946, he attended Oregon State College on the GI Bill.  He graduated from OSC in June 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Horticulture.  He accepted a position with the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation Service.  He retired as a District Director from the USDA/ASCS in 1986.  

 

Alan married Audrey A. Jarmin on June 3, 1951.  Alan and Audrey had two children, Patrick A. Jacobs and Roger L. Jacobs.  Alan and Audrey lived in St. Helens, Oregon and then transferred with his work to Ontario, Oregon.  The marriage was dissolved in 1981.  Alan married Shirley L. Arbogast (Proctor) in 1982, and they lived in Ontario, moved to Alaska for eight years, and then moved back to Central Oregon in 1993. 

 

Alan enjoyed hunting, gun collecting, reloading, fishing, fly tying, boating, water skiing, camping, woodworking, dancing, traveling and getting together with family and friends.  Alan and Shirley vacationed in numerous cities and states across the US.  They traveled to Hawaii and Mexico numerous times, enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Mexico, took motor home trips to Dawson City, Yukon Territories, Canada, and a 7,000+ mile RV trip across the western US, and took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Amsterdam, Paris, and a safari in Tanzania.  Alan was a life member of the B.P.O.E Lodge, Ontario, Oregon, life member of the NRA, and a member of the Crook County Historical Society.

 

Alan is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons Patrick A. Jacobs (Laura) of Waldorf, MD and Roger L. Jacobs (Suzi) of Reno, NV; grandsons Alan Jacobs of Lakeland, FL and Justin Jacobs of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughter Nichole Goldner (Charles) of Evans, GA; nephew Gerry Lauer (Lynn) of Buckley, WA; and niece, Sally Jacobs of Bandon, OR; mother-in-law Ruth Proctor of Prineville, OR; stepsons John Arbogast of Pittsburgh, PA and Justin Arbogast (Mandy) of Houston, MO; and numerous great-grandchildren, step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. 

 

A private Celebration of Life will be held later this summer.   Donations may be made to St. Charles Hospice 2275 NE Doctors Dr., Ste. 3, Bend, OR  97701 or Crook County Historical Society, 246 N. Main Street, Prineville, OR  97754.