Bill Joseph Jakubowsky (1936-2022)

JAKUBOWSKY, O’BACH, HAYNES

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/11/2022 at 17:32:18

Bill Joseph Jakubowsky, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Sunday, July 10, 2022, from injuries sustained in recent falls.

Bill was born on July 4, 1936, in Belfield, North Dakota, the eighth of thirteen children of William and Catherine (O’Bach) Jakubowsky. He graduated from Belfield High School in 1954 and attended college at North Dakota State Teacher’s College in Dickinson and North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1960. He was united in marriage to Linda Haynes on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1966, and together they raised five children.

Bill grew up on a farm and his farm work ethic never went away. He worked as a test technician for Rockwell Collins for 31 ½ years, riding his bike to and from work almost every day until he retired in 1991. After retirement, he continued working part-time at Aegon for Per-Mar Security, Ace Hardware, and doing subscription sales for the Gazette. In retirement Bill also became a committed volunteer for the American Red Cross. He assisted at many fires and traveled to more than a dozen national disasters. In 1996 he was honored to be the recipient of the Mid Lindsey Award as the volunteer of the year in disaster services. He also received recognition as a dedicated blood donor.

Bill seemed destined to be a patriot with his Independence Day birthday. After high school he served 3 years in the United States Army, including time in Korea. He was a member of the American Legion Post 298 and served in the Honor Guard with Hanford Post 5 for many years. He was honored to take part in the Veterans Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2014.

Bill was a devoted member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and was active in their Holy Name Society. He and Linda loved to dance. They met at a dance on St. Patrick’s Day, 1966, and square danced with Rapid Eights Square Dance Club for thirty years. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and jigsaw puzzles.

Bill loved to travel. When the kids were young, summers were filled with camping trips all over the country. After retirement, he and Linda spent many winters in Florida and Texas, and also took special trips to Hawaii, Alaska, and Argentina.

Bill had beautiful bluish-green eyes and a warm smile. He was jovial and could strike up a conversation anywhere with anyone. He was reliable and consistent and always willing to help a friend or neighbor.

He and Linda moved to the Village Cooperative in 2015 and he loved his home there. In recent years, he struggled with dementia, but he kept his positive spirit. He loved his wife and family. He adored the grandkids, great-grand babies, and his grand dogs too. He was smiling and joking almost until the end.

Bill is survived by his wife, Linda, of 55 years, five children: Dave (Tina), Bob, Janelle Hall, Judi (Scott) Pries, and Joyce (Steve) Oaks; eight granddaughters: Taylor (Juan) Pacheco, Kelsey and Marissa Pries; Erin (Stacy) Wolcott, Amber Menzer, and Lauren, Emma, and Sadie Oaks; and four great-grandchildren, Keaton, Kamden, and Kylie Wolcott, and William Cook.

He is also survived by his brothers: John (Erma) and Nick (Mary Ellen); sisters: Agatha Lipovac, Emily Schweitzer, Mary (Phil) Colozzi, and Toni (Norman) Heinert; brother-in-law Jim (Cherie) Haynes; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two siblings in infancy, Anton and Janice; sisters: Betty Andriash, Eva Brueni, and Margie Fleckenstein; brother Frank Jakubowsky, and brothers-in-law: John Schweitzer, Anton Fleckenstein, Bill Andriash, John Brueni, and Ray Lipovac.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be at 11:00 am Friday, July 15, 2022 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Douglas Loecke officiating. Entombment with military services will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, the American Red Cross, or the American Legion Post 298.