Joseph William Jacobs, Jr, 95, of Gillespie, passed away Thursday, October 2, 2025, at his residence in Rochester, IL.

Joe, was born September 2, 1930, the son of Joseph William Sr. and Anna Beatrice (Shimkus) Jacobs. Joe began his life at Gillespie Lake until he moved to their farm in Gillespie. He went to school at Grime School until the 8th grade. Then he went on to work on the farm alongside with his father until his father's death in 1967.

Joe always loved animals, especially hunting dogs and beagles. At the age of 20, he was drafted into the US Army for two years during the Korean War. During the war, he went to FRance and served as a dental assistant. After returning home from the Army, he went back to farming. He married Eunice Perrine in 1954. They had three children. During that time, Joe also started to raise dogs. He had over 12 different breeds that he raised. He also joined the Cahokia Beagle Club. Once a month he would go to the field trials with his dogs. He enjoyed judging dogs to see how they tracked rabbits.

Joe retired and moved to Litchfield when the long wall mining at Monterey Coal Company came through. Soon after, he turned over the farming operation to his son, Joe. He then began to buy and rent houses around the area. At one time he had 17 houses that he managed. He cared for his own mother in Litchfield until her death in 2002. Joe continued to live in Litchfield until May of 2022 when he moved to Rochester with his daughter and her husband.

Joe is survived by his children, daughter Diane Jacobs of Litchfield; son, Joe Jacobs, III of Gillespie; daughter Lynn (Dick) Buecker of Rochester; granddaughter, Casey (Andy) Yuskanich of Springfield; grandson, Zach Buecker of Springfield; two great grandchildren, Jacob and Daxton Yuskanich

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Loretta L. Schosser.

Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 11:00 am, at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Cedar and Second Street, Gillespie, IL .

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society.

Please visit www.davisandersonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or light a candle in his memory.

Davis-Anderson Funeral Homes, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.