H. Jacobi

Hastings resident, H. Edward Jacobi, 88, passed away Thursday, August 1, 2013 at his home.

Rosary will be Monday, August 5, 2013; 7:30 P.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, August 6, 2013; 10:30 A.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. He will be honored by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Honor Guard. Burial with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations will be at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Memorials may be given to Hastings Catholic Schools Trust or St. Michael's Catholic Church. Visitation will be Sunday, August 4, 2013; 3:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. and Monday, August 5, 2013; 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Visitation will also be one hour prior to rosary and service at the church on Monday and Tuesday.

Ed was born December 19, 1924 in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska to Herman & Amelia (Hamling) Jacobi. He attended school through the eighth grade in a one room school one and one-half miles from his parents' farm southwest of Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. He graduated from Cedar Rapids High School in 1943. In World War II, Ed served in the Army in the Pacific Theatre being one of the first troops to enter Japan, via Tokyo, after the war was over. Returning home after one year of duty in Japan as a staff sergeant, he attended Grand Island Business College. He graduated there in December 1947 and went to work for Kerr Building Specialties in January 1948. Ed married Dolores Irene Maul on June 6, 1950 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Hastings. In 1952, Ed and Dolores built their own home where they have continued to live at this time. In 1954, Ed left Kerr Building Specialties and joined Bob Ray, forming the Ray Building Products Company, where he remained for 18 years. In 1972, he and his wife purchased a building in downtown Hastings, starting their own business calling it Jacobi's Carpet Linoleum and Tile. This grew into Jacobi's Carpet One from which he retired. Ed was active in the Hastings Chamber of Commerce having served on the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Downtown Parking Committee and served on the Planning and Zoning Committee for the City of Hastings. He was a member of the Hastings Rotary Club from 1958 to 2008 where he was a "Paul Harris Fellow." One of Ed's proudest moments, on the city level, was in January of 1980 when Ed was selected as "Boss of the Year" by the Hastings Jaycees, a division of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce. Ed was also very active in the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Finance Board of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church and as Chairman of that board for one year. He was also elected to the Hastings Catholic Schools first School Board and served as President of that board in 1966 for one year. He was President of the St. Michael's Mens Club in 1974. Ed was elected to serve as a member of the Building Committee for the construction of the new church for St. Michael's Parish in west Hastings. He was one of the first Lectors to be appointed and blessed by the Bishop. Also, the Ed and Dolores Jacobi family was honored by the Knights of Columbus as the Catholic Family of the Year in 1976. Ed joined the Knights of Columbus in 1954 and served as Grand Knight of Council #1123 from 1956 to 1958. He was instrumental in forming the first Cub Scout Troop and serving as Cub Master which led into the first Boy Scout troop for St. Cecilia's Parish which was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. He was appointed as committee Chairman to build a new clubroom for the Knights of Columbus in 1962. Following the construction of the new building, Ed served as Chairman of the Trustees for the next six years in charge of the operation of the new Building Operations Committee. Ed was also instrumental in the formation of the marching band for St. Cecilia's Catholic Schools in 1958. This band was sponsored and funded by the Knights of Columbus for many years. On the state level, he served as State General Program Chairman under two State Deputies from 1960 to 1964. He was elected State Secretary from 1966 to 1968, and as State Deputy from 1968 to 1970. Of the many highlights of his term of two years, one was the dedication of the Chapel built for the Boys Training School in Kearney, Nebraska which was sponsored and funded by the Nebraska Knights of Columbus; and the appointment by the Supreme Knight as one of five State Deputies nationwide to serve on a special commission of the Supreme Council. Ed shared a passion for automobiles, especially antique automobiles and model railroading. He enjoyed restoring several Packard automobiles and driving his 1939 Packard on several trips across the United States as well as parades and car shows.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and five sisters.

SURVIVORS:
Wife of 63 years: Dolores Maul Jacobi - Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouses: Stephen & Patty Jacobi - Hastings, NE
Tim & Jody Jacobi - Hastings, NE
Mark & Tami Jacobi - Hastings, NE
Ron Jacobi - Westminster, CO
Daughters & Spouses: Laurie & Jim Jackson - Hastings, NE
Deborah & Jim Starr - Hastings, NE
Mary & Dave Sherman - Arvada, CO
Grandchildren: 23
Great-Grandchildren: 4
Numerous Nieces & Nephews