Vernon Jacobs

Vernon A. "Vern" Jacobs, age 87 of Melrose, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Pine Villa CentraCare Health Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, May 7 at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Melrose following the Mass.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Vernon August Jacobs was born July 28, 1930 in Upsala, Minnesota, the son of Edward and Veronica (Stueve) Jacobs. Vern was raised on a dairy and hog farm near Upsala, Minnesota. Vern worked as a farmer and also at Landy Packing in Saint Cloud until closure. Then, he began working at Jennie-O Foods in Melrose until his retirement.

In 1956, he was united in marriage to Mary Kurtz. To this union, six children, Elizabeth, Arthur, Alfred, Madonna, Maggie, and Leo were born.

On June 20, 1977, Vern was married to Mary Ellering Latzka. He then became step father to the Latzka children, Katherine, Jane, Ruth, William, Mary Kay, Elizabeth, Patricia, and Alan. During his marriage to Mary Latzka, Vern and Mary had the privilege of traveling to Europe, Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming and many more places.

Vern loved riding BMW motorcycles, John Deere tractors, Chevy trucks, woodworking and cutting wood. He also enjoyed dancing to old-time music, gardening, and traveling in his RV. Attending festivals, camping, playing cards, making popcorn, spending time with family and friends, babysitting, and tinkering in his workshop with wood and machinery were some of his favorite hobbies.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; his children, Elizabeth, Arthur (Holly), Alfred (Karen), Madonna, and Maggie (Allan); 13 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren; his extended family, Katherine (Bill), Jane (Michael), Ruth (Dave), William (K), Mary Kay (Rich), Elizabeth (Jim), Patricia (Paul) and Alan (Marilyn); 24 step grandchildren; 15 step great grandchildren; and 2 step great great grandchildren; and sisters, Carol Ann and Marian.

Vern was preceded in death by his son, Leo; grandson, Tommy Latzka; parents; and brothers and sisters, Gerald, Virgil, Delores, Lillian, Darlene, and Laverne.

Serving as casket bearers will be Josh Jacobs, Kyle Binek, Steve Kurtz, Dennis Arhens, Brent Hellerman, Brandon Petermeier, Jake Latzka, and Zac Latzka. Cross bearer will be Shania Jacobs and scripture bearer will be Janelle Terhaar. Gift bearers will be Lexi Illies, Kayla Hellerman, Holly Hellerman, and Madeline Herberg. Readers will be Maggie Boeckerman, Emily Petermeier, and Sophia Meaux. Mass servers will Jadielyn Rudolph, Jenessa Rudolph, and Michael Holz. Eucharistic Ministers will be Madonna Jackels and Lori and Herbie Thull. The eulogy will be read by Bill Latzka.