Memorial
Marion Claire Jacobs passed away on the morning of December 22, 2022, at the age of 91, following a brief illness. She was youngest of seven children, born to John and Anna (Nigg) Degnan on September 13, 1931, living in Guttenberg, IA.
On March 11, 1951, while attending Marycrest College, in Clinton, she happened to meet John P. Jacobs at a dance. Their first date was tobogganing in Clinton, IA. Friends eventually escaped the cold and retreated to the warming house, but Marion and Jake remained outside talking. Leaving the snowy hills, space in the car was tight and Marion found her seat on Jake's lap. The spark was lit leading to their blessed 52 years of marriage. They married on June 26th, 1954, at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg, after Jake returned from the Korean Conflict. To their wonderful union, six children were born. They raised their children in accordance with their Catholic faith, instilled in them commitments to family, faith and the compassionate service of others. Marion was a life-long learner, finishing her bachelor’s degree in English from Mt. Mercy University at age 45, while raising their six children. After teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at Washington High School and Coe College, she was recruited to establish the ESL program at Kirkwood Community College, where she taught and mentored students from across the globe for nearly twenty years. Many of those relationships endured beyond her retirement. Marion was known to friends and family as a creative, an artist, with a particular love for sculptural, figurative clay. She was among the first students at the Iowa Ceramic Center and Glass Studio (opening its doors in the Cherry Building in 2009). Marion engaged the resident artists with her curiosity and genuine desire to learn. She appreciated the wide-ranging styles and evolving skills that resident artists shared in the many classes she participated in over her 13 years with the studio. Marion had a wonderful personal style with her sculptural figures and many family members and friends treasure those pieces that she gifted to them. On her birthday in 2021 her family surprised her with an all family sculptural clay class in the courtyard of the center. Marion also served... where she engaged visitors from around the world. She served two terms as president of the Marvin Cone Club and was active in garden club, Questors, bridge clubs and serving her parish, St Matthew.
Marion was preceded in her journey to heaven by her husband John Paul, her parents, Anna and John Degnan, her sister Annette Ellsworth, and her brothers Jack Degnan, Irish Degnan and Ed Degnan. She leaves behind her children, Anne (Scott) Johnson, John (Kristen) Jacobs, Brian (Julie) Jacobs, Tom (Julie) Jacobs, Patti (Kevin) Hein, and Lynn (John Paul) Malik and 18 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren (and two more great grandchildren arriving this spring). She also leaves her brother, Don (Ann) Degnan, who promised to give her a gentle push to heaven (like all good big brothers), her sister Jane Schappler, her brother-in-laws Fran Jacobs and Stewart Iliff, and many dear relatives and friends. The family would like to send their deepest thanks to Hospice of Mercy, in particular nurses, Pam and Kendra; and Right at Home, in particular, Alliance. They would also like to extend gratitude for the wonderful care provided by Dr. Melanie Stahlberg, MD, and Dr Ujjwal Kumar, MD. All providers of medical services came through for Marion with exemplary care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to any of the following organizations that Marion supported: Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio Marion C. Jacobs Resident Artists Fund (319) 365-9644 St. Matthew’s Catholic Church (319) 363-8269 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (319) 366-7503.
Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm Monday, December 26, 2022, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom where a vigil will be held at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Private Inurnment will be held at a later date in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Marion Jacobs, under the video tab starting at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, December 27, 2022.