Antonius Leonardus Jacobs (Tony) transitioned from this life to the Heavens on July 29, 2022 Peacefully and with great courage. He chose to be home with the gentle care of family and the Utah Valley Home Hospice. He died a natural death with no major health issues and no major illness.
He spent his last few weeks of life enjoying time with loved ones, traveling to see family, working on his Ford model-A cars, teaching classes at his car club meetings, driving in the Provo Freedom Festival Parade in his 1931 Ford Victoria, enjoying local festivals, and sharing stories of his childhood.
Tony was born in Oude-Tonge, Holland, Netherlands on Oct. 22, 1933. He lived in Holland until age 14. In 1939 Tony’s father sailed for the United States with his two oldest Sons before the war in Europe. World War 2 came fast. The Family could not get back together for 7 years. Tony immigrated to the United States with his mother and brothers at the end of world war II. They arrived in California to reunite with his father and 2 older brothers in 1947.
Tony spent his first year in America in Bellflower California working on the family dairy farm and then they moved to Bishop California where his family purchased Sierra Farms Dairy in 1948. He spent his time working on the farm, milking cows by hand, riding horses, bucking hay, and delivering milk throughout the Owens Valley.
He met his wife Janice Castagno when her horse ran away to his farm. The fathers made an arrangement to feed and board her horse. Tony was 15 years old, Janice was 13 years old, and although Tony could not yet speak English, he and Janice fell deep into love, an everlasting love. They were eventually married in June of 1954 in the Catholic Church in Bishop California. In 1955 Tony became a US citizen at a ceremony in Independence.
They started a family and had two children, Madeline and Jeff. The Missionaries knocked on their door in 1958. They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were sealed as a Family in the Los Angeles Temple in 1964.
Tony has worked at many professions throughout his life. He first was a dairy farmer where he learned to work hard. He went to meat cutting school in Toledo, Ohio in 1958. He owned and operated the old Matlick Slaughter House then later owned and operated Tony’s Meats and Lockers. He bought a rendering business and worked to take by-products to Reno, Nevada on a weekly basis.
He is a 23 year veteran of the Bishop Volunteer Fire department. He served as president of the Owen’s Valley Wranglers; President of the Bishop 20-30 club; was active in the Lion’s Club and Elk’s Lodge and was a 3-term president of the Bishop Homecoming and Labor Day association. Later, In 1997, Tony was honored
to return to Bishop as the Grand Marshal of the Bishop Homecoming and Labor Day Association Parade where he was referred to as “The Wooden Shoe Cowboy”.
Tony, Janice and the family moved to Utah in 1978. Tony bought and sold a Baskin Robbins ice cream store in Orem, and a 10 acre fruit orchard in Santaquin. He also worked for a transportation company, Valgardson, moving mobile units across the west. He then drove for Reed Inc. delivering fuel from Logan, Utah to Ely, Nevada. He was never afraid of hard work and enjoyed the journey in every way. He retired at the age of 72. He always provided well. A real entrepreneur!
In retirement Tony and Janice spent time with kids, grandkids, and great grandchildren. They traveled and nurtured cherished friendships. He had time to restore 3 more Ford Model “A”’s while supporting his Utah Valley Old Car Club. Tony loved his yard planting tulips each fall. He enjoyed a nice garden and had a small hobby farm with chickens, goats and of course his dogs.
They served an LDS mission back to his homeland, the Netherlands, from 2006 through 2008.
Tony was preceded in death by his mother Adriana Johanna de Laat. , his father Cornelis Adrianus Jacobs, his wife Mary Janice Castagno Jacobs, his brothers Pete (Mickey), John (Estelle), Rinus (Alice), and Casey (Patricia), and his son in law Bart Reed.
He is survived by his daughter Madeline Jacobs Reed (Bart), his son Jeffery Leo Jacobs, his eight grandchildren. Jacob Reed, Kody Jacobs, Daniel Reed, Kandace Peterson, Kascee Jacobs, Andrew Reed, Kallie Kee, and Kade Jacobs and his 18 great grandchildren.
He lived by his favorite motto:
“ I am not afraid of tomorrow for I have seen yesterday and I love today.”
Viewing:
Friday August 5, 2022 Utah Valley Mortuary
1966 W. 700 N., Lindon, UT 84042
Funeral:
Saturday, August 6, 2022
9am-10:45am viewing followed by funeral service at 11am.
610 W. 100 S.,
Lindon, UT 84042
Internment in Bishop California
August 13, 2022
1:00 at the East Line Street Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.
