Arthur Jacobs

ANNA, Ill. -- With deepest sorrow and fond memories, we say goodbye to Arthur E. "Bucky" Jacobs, a devoted husband, wonderful father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Bucky, a longtime resident of Caseyville, Ill., passed away on March 11, 2005, at the Veterans Home at Anna. He was born on Oct. 17, 1923, in McClure, Ill., son of the late Arthur and Lilly Mae Cox Jacobs.

He married former Mary Norris on March 7, 1953, in Thebes, Ill.

Bucky spent 33 years working as a switchman for the Alton and Southern Railroad in East St. Louis, Ill. He was a member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Belleville, Ill., the United Transportation Union and the Collinsville VFW Post 5961. Bucky joined the service in 1942 and served in the European Theater as a staff sergeant until 1945 with General Patton's Third Army. He excelled in baseball and basketball and was well-known in Southern Illinois for his playing ability. Bucky played professional baseball for 11 years. He was a third baseman and played more than 1,400 consecutive baseball games, a record that stood for many years and may still stand. He played in the Mont-Clair League for Waterloo, Ill., for several years. Bucky also coached the Little League soccer and baseball teams in Collinsville, where his two sons were very active. He managed the Herr Traveling Baseball team and took them to bistate in 1975 and won first place.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary L. Norris Jacobs of Caseyville, Ill.; two sons, Douglas Arthur and wife Francine of Tarzana, Calif., Stuart Robert Jacobs of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; beloved twin sister Vonda Ree and husband John Newhouse of St. Peters, Mo., a sister, Etha Lence of Chester, Ill.; five grandchildren, his pride and joy, Jessica, Ryan, Kyle, Connor and Cole Jacobs; a special niece, Teresa Stahl and husband Allan of St. Peters, Mo.; a special nephew, David Jacobs and wife Jackie of Waterloo, Ill.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Raymond Oxford will officiate, with burial in Lindsey Cemetery at McClure, Ill. Full military honors will be by VFW Post 3838 and the Marine Corps League.

Memorials may be made to Lindsey Cemetery Association and the Illinois Veterans Home at Anna.

The family of Arthur E. "Bucky" Jacobs would like to thank the Illinois Veterans Home for the loving care he received.