Obituary: Mary Lee Jacobs

Former Bayside resident Mary Lee Jacobs passed away Saturday.

Jacobs was born in Short Hills, NJ and grew up in Lake Forest, IL and Milwaukee, where she excelled in figure skating. Living most of her life in Wisconsin, she resided in Bayside and Hartford.

She attended Milwaukee Downer Seminary, graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York and attended Vassar College. Her life was full and rewarding. She was an avid golfer and 12-time club champion between Chenequa and Milwaukee Country Clubs, as well as an accomplished gardener and a past member of the Green Tree Garden Club. She volunteered her time to the Red Cross and the University School of Milwaukee.

She loved architecture and design, also designing her own guesthouse at the Farm. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed projects of all kinds, especially if they involved carpentry or engineering some useful gadget to make life easier. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Home Instead Senior Care, especially Kavon, Ruth, Susie, Sybille, and Tracy, as well as the nurses from Seasons Hospice for their devoted and loving care in the final months of Mary Lee’s life.
She touched many people with her loving, gracious and independent personality, and will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Kenny, of 59 years, her sister, Janet (Jim) Balding, and her brother, Donald (Nancie) Cottrell. Mary Lee is survived by her children, Kathy (John) Housiaux, Kip (Jill) Jacobs, Robert Jacobs, and William (John Joiner) Jacobs; her six grandchildren, Andy (fiancée, Julia Alexander) Housiaux, Julie (Jeremy) Caldwell, Charlie (Erin) Housiaux, Rob (Terry) Jacobs, Brad (Sarah) Jacobs, and Kyle Jacobs; and her great-grandchild, CJ Housiaux. 

A memorial service will be held at St. Christopher’s Church, 7845 N. River Rd., River Hills, WI 53217 on Friday at 4 p.m. The family will receive friends at a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to University School of Milwaukee, 2100 W. Fairy Chasm Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, or a charity of your choice.

(Courtesy of Feerick Funeral Home)