Billy “Bill” Earl Jacobs, 79 of Hiawatha died on Thursday, August 16, 2024 after a short battle with Alzheimer’s.
Bill was born on January 22, 1945, in Kansas City, KS to Chester and Martha “Louise” (Laverentz) Jacobs. In 1949 the family moved to Hiawatha where he lived his entire life.
Bill left Hiawatha to enlist in the United States Navy where he was stationed on the U.S.S. Midway during the Vietnam era. During his time in the Navy, he earned his GED as well as numerous awards and high praises from his Commanders.
Once he completed his enlistment, he returned to Hiawatha where he owned and operated Bill’s Bike & Auto Repair and Bill’s Auto Repair until he retired in 2016. He was Mr. Fix it and could fix anything with (or without) a motor.
He married Vivian “Brockhoff” Constable in May 1969. Of that union they had one child, Tammy Kay “Jacobs” Croxton. They divorced in 1978.
He married Kimberly Ann “Blevins” Lutz in October 1979 and assisted with raising her two children, Richard and Amy Lind. They divorced in 2001.
For over 20 years he owned and maintained multiple rental properties in Hiawatha until selling them in 2021. He had many hobbies, but his favorite was riding his Harley.
He is survived by his three children, Richard (Alawna) Lind of Lenexa, KS, Tammy (Paul) Croxton of Sedgwick, KS and Amy Lind of Kansas City, MO; his sister Kathy (Don) Griffith of Holton, KS and lifelong best friend Kenneth (Mary) Kaufman of Hiawatha; 10 grandchildren, Kristopher, Lucas, Brianna, Colby, Brennan, Trinity, Anessa, Braeden, Katrina, Victoria, 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Rosalie Wilson and Nancy Prawl, and his lifelong best friend Randy Weda.
Services are planned for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha. Pastor Rich Lehmkuhl will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, with military honors a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Tuesday. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services Wednesday at the funeral home.
