Carole Jacobs, 72, Clearwater

March 9, 1944 - August 8, 2016

Carole A. Jacobs passed away peacefully at the St. Cloud Hospital on August 8, 2016 while holding her son Bryan’s hand. Her family will hold services at a later time. Friends are encouraged to call or visit the family at home.

Carole was born on March 9, 1944 in Champlin, MN to Fred and Bernice (LeMere) Smith. Education was very important in Carole’s life. She graduated from Anoka High School, St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing top of her class, and later from the College of St. Benedict with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. At graduation, she was inducted into the Honor Society of the College. During her training, she met Leo Jacobs and the two were married on October 8, 1966 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. Over the years, Carole volunteered with Reach to Recovery. Her own experiences and caring manner brought great hope to many women with breast cancer in the St. Cloud area. One of Carole’s greatest loves was traveling to Montana and visiting her son Aric and family. She loved the many majestic mountains and landscapes. Carole was an avid sea cruiser. She and Leo took over 20 cruises around the world, earning them the Captain’s Circle status. Taking pictures of her travels and sharing those trips with her children and family brought her great joy. Carole enjoyed scrapbooking and her bookshelves were filled and overflowing with pictures from those travels. Carole was employed at the St. Cloud VAMC for 40 years where she was a highly respected clinician and manager. She received many local awards for her work with veterans including a national award for innovative care for the chronically mentally ill. Carole was an active woman who enjoyed using her treadmill up until the last month before her passing.

She was a very devoted wife, mother, and grandmother … her absence will be felt by many who’s lives she touched.

Carole is survived by her husband of 50 years Leo Jacobs of Clearwater; her sons Bryan Jacobs of Clearwater and Aric (Angel) Jacobs of Kila, MT; and her granddaughter Hailee Jacobs of Kila, MT.

She is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Bernice Smith.