Jacobs, Delbert “Dell,” 1891-1931

JACOBS, STEINBERG, GROVE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

From the Rock Valley Bee, May 1, 1931:

Delbert Jacobs passed away Wednesday evening following an operation for appendicitis in the Methodist hospital in Sioux City last Saturday. It was a serious case from the first, the appendix being ruptured. He withstood the operation, and the doctors held out some hopes for his recovery.

He was a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Consistory in Sioux City. Funeral services will be held in Sioux City Saturday at 2:00 o’clock in charge of the Masonic lodge of that place. A further account will be given next week.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, May 8, 1931:

DEATH OF DELBERT JACOBS

Delbert Jacobs, whose sudden demise was briefly noted in last week’s Bee, passed away in the Methodist hospital in Sioux City Wednesday evening, April 29th. Taken with severe pains Saturday afternoon previous, he was rushed from Leeds to the hospital in Sioux City for immediate operation. The best expert medical service of the city was promptly available. The appendix was found to be badly ruptured although no previous symptoms had indicated such a serious condition pending.

Mr. Jacobs had been recently employed as fireman for the Northwestern lines in the switching service at Emerson, Nebr., and previously on the passenger run between Sioux City and Omaha.

The subject of this sketch was born March 28th, 1891 in Hull, Iowa, the son of C. W. Jacobs, of Rock Valley, and his mother was formerly Della Steinberg, of Hull, who passed away when he was two weeks old. The tender days of babyhood were passed in the care of his aunt, Mrs. Meecham, of Mazon [Mason?], Ills.

Delbert followed railway work in various capacities: as bill clerk in the great apple shipping points of the northwest, as station clerk on the G.N. lines and for the past twenty years as locomotive fireman for the C. St. P. M. & O. Road in the Sioux City territory with which lines he had qualified as locomotive engineer some two years ago.

He was married about sixteen years ago to Miss Bessie Groves, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Groves, now of Leeds, Iowa. This couple recently resided at 110 Follis apartments in Sioux City. Mrs. Jacobs has held a responsible position in the division superintendent’s office of the Milwaukee road in Sioux City for a number of years. No children were born to this couple.

“Dell” was a highly honored and respected member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Landmark Lodge of the A.F. and A.M., the Sioux City Consistory and the Abu Beker Shrine.

The funeral services were held from the Westcott Chapel in Sioux City Saturday afternoon conducted by the Rev. Percy E. Burtt, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Brethren of the Lodges had charge of the very impressive Masonic services in the Graceland cemetery.

Both services were largely attended by the hosts of admiring Railway co-workers and friends of this worthy couple. Among those from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Jacobs, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Jacobs, Franklin Huizenga and Bernice Fitzgerald, of Rock Valley, Harold Jacobs, of Plankinton, S.D., Ethel Jacobs and Mrs. Hopkins, of Sioux Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Morse, of Sheldon and Mr. Howard Grove of Chicago, brother of Mrs. Jacobs. Homer Jacobs and Mrs. J. A. Reaney, of El Paso, brother and sister of the deceased, were unable to come.

The especially large display of beautiful flowers sent by the Fraternal Lodges at Sioux City and Rock Valley, the Railway Organizations and by the many sympathetic friends of the families attested in a loving manner the universal esteem held for this worthy young man whose sudden end, apparently in his prime, so suddenly closed the assurance of a successful career; deprives a loving wife of her congenial companion; the community of an outstanding citizen and his associates of a trustworthy friend.

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A briefer obituary in the Alton Democrat, May 8, 1931, Rock Valley news adds that he was born in Hull March 28, 1891 and a little later moved to Rock Valley with his parents where he lived for several years. It gives his father as Charles W. Jacobs of Rock Valley and his sister as Mrs. A. J. Reaney; his brother Homer is the only other sibling listed.

His death certificate gives him as Dell R. Jacobs and his wife as Mrs. Bessie Grove Jacobs, and adds time of death, 6:30 p.m. April 29, 1931; cause, peritonitis from ruptured appendix following an appendectomy and drainage on April 23; buried in Graceland Park cemetery, Sioux City