Obituary of Walter Charles Jacoby

WALTER CHARLES JACOBY Walter Charles Jacoby 96 â?? died February 24, 2008 after a short illness. Born on September 13, 1911, in Whitefish, Montana, Walter learned early to love outdoors and fishing. His parents, Bernard G. Jacoby and Cora Corbin raised Walt, plus his three brothers and two sisters in Whitefish. After high school, he first attended Caroll College in Helena, and as fortune would have it, he transferred to Montana State in Bozeman, where he met his wife to be, Jeannette Isbell. In 1933, with his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in hand, he landed a job at the Crown Zellerbach Paper Company in Camas, Washington, where he lived with his Uncle Phil and Aunt Lottie Jacoby. In August of 1934, Jeannette arrived from Bozeman on the train, and they were married. In their early married days, they lived over the Sutterâ?? s Store at the top of Division and 13th until the birth of their daughter, Claudia. As a young man he climbed Mt. Hood. Walt continued to work for the mill in Camas, and fish with friends and family. They lived in Camas until 1956 when he was transferred to St. Helens, Oregon. A few years later he and Jeannette moved to Menlo Park, California where he worked for the Main Office of Crown Zellerbach in San Francisco as Manager of Specialty Papers for CZ USA. His favorite pastimes here were to do lapidary work at the Little House, play golf and card games with Jeanette, put a little magic spell on friends and grandchildren while playing croquet, Recording for the Blind, and visiting with his many friends. Following his wifeâ??s death in 1986, he married Leona Gresz Geprich and lived winters in Florida and summers in Menlo Park. They enjoyed travel and card games together. After Leonaâ??s death in 1996, Walt moved back north to be near his family. He lived for 10 years at Van Mall Retirement, then moved to Columbia Ridge Assisted Living in Washougal, and the past year at Hoodview Adult Foster Care on NE 167th in Vancouver. In Waltâ??s early years, he headed up the building committee for the current St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Camas; he was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus; belonged to the SIRS group in Menlo Park; SERRA CLUB to aide priests; and supported many LIFE groups. He is survived by his only daughter, Claudia Heacock and her husband, Don of Camas; his sisters Dorothy Sparrell & her husband, Marvin in Boise, ID and Mary Jo Look & her husband, Bob in Whitefish, MT; brother Altie Jacoby & his wife, Barbara in Wisconsin. His grandchildren are: Stephen Heacock & his wife, Sally in Kingston, WA; Greg Heacock & his wife, Louise & twin daughters Phoebe and Ellen in Auburn, WA; Terry Tucker & her husband James and their children: Deena, Michael, Renae and husband Kevin Clark, Lisa & Jacob in Camas, WA; and Suzanne Chandler & her husband Dean and their children: Alan & Casey in Renton, WA. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette, his second wife Leona, brothers: Bob and Bernard Jacoby; nephews: Matt Look and Bob Jacoby, and a grandson, David Walter Heacock. A funeral mass for Walt will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, Feb. 28th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at 4th and Oak in Camas. A rosary vigil will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday. Burial will follow at the Camas Cemetery. Straubâ??s Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the John Paul II Center for Life 534 NE Everett St., Camas, WA - www.jpiicenter.com/index.htm. To send condolences or to sign the online guest book visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.