Thomas Jacobs

For some people, the only way they know is forward, pushing onward, the open road ahead of them. Thomas Jacobs was that way, never happier than putting wheels on pavement, heading off to parts unknown, enjoying the adventure of the long haul. He had been everywhere there is to be in this country, yet his times on the road always made him appreciate his life, his loves, and his family, who always called him home.

Thomas's story began on a cold winter day in 1952, in the little farming community of Augusta, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, which was battling the Korean War and the Cold War, and dealing with the Red Scare, the Nuclear Age, and racial tension here at home. Amid all that strife, Manus and Dorothy (Moore) Jacobs found reason to celebrate on February 4, 1952, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Thomas.

Thomas was the third surviving child in the family's home, joining brother Donn and sister Dianna. When he was little, his parents divorced, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Richard DesArmo. As a child he and his mother would visit the other children, who lived with their father in Grand Rapids.

Dianna remembers on one visit, when Thomas was very young, he got behind the wheel of his mother's car and inadvertently shifted it out of gear. The car was parked on an incline, and it coasted down the street, gathering steam, going through a busy intersection, and finally, blessedly, coming to rest in the yard of a downtown church! While everyone was upset at the impromptu adventure, they were all relieved that no one was hurt. That was Thomas, though, even as a little boy, he loved the excitement of the open road!

Thomas's mom worked for the Internal Revenue Service, so they moved around some over the years. They started out in Kalamazoo, where Thomas first went to school, before she was transferred to Grand Rapids, where they lived in the north side, and Thomas attended Northview Schools. Thomas grew up like many boys did in that era, watching Captain Kangaroo and falling in love with cars. As he grew up, he developed his great talent for working on cars and motors, which was his true passion.

Thomas wasn't particularly interested in school, and dropped out. He later realized the importance of an education, and diligently took classes to earn his GED, which was very important to him.

His mother was transferred to the IRS' main regional office in Cincinnati, and Thomas went along, too. Thomas wasn't in Cincinnati long before he had a family of his own. There he met a young woman who worked as a waitress in a restaurant he often visited, and they formed a relationship. Eventually, they were married, and not long after, had a beautiful baby girl, Tracy Lynn.

His marriage wasn't meant to be, however, and after he split from his wife he moved back to Grand Rapids, where he began his lifelong career as a truck driver. Thomas was born to drive the truck, which combined so many things he loved, motors, the open road, the excitement of seeing new places, and camaraderie with his fellow truckers. He loved meeting new people, and saw the entire United States over the years. He was a long-distance driver, hitting the road for several months at a time, before taking some time off to spend back home with family and friends.

Thomas always had something else going on in addition to his truck-driving duties, though. He had a variety of side jobs, usually connected with fixing things (he loved to fix things) or with race cars, his favorite hobby. Together with some relatives, Thomas once built a race car they entered at the Berlin Motor Speedway in Marne.

Thomas's favorite hangout in Grand Rapids was the Big Boy Restaurant on Michigan Street, where he often went. There he met a pretty waitress named Lisa Kammeraad, and they soon became friends. After a six-year courtship, the two were married, in 1996. They would have married sooner, but Thomas was a tough man to pin down, especially being on the road for months at a time! He always accused Lisa of bribing him with a new toolbox to get hitched! The story went that she offered to get him the toolbox on the condition he set a wedding date. So he picked the date, got his new toolbox, as well as a new bride.

The couple lived in Grand Rapids, along with Lisa's daughter, Amber Kammeraad. In 2000, they wanted to move out of the city, so they moved to Howard City, which they loved for the rural setting. Lisa and Thomas were a great couple, for so many reasons, most of all because she knew him better than anyone. After he'd been off the road for awhile, she could tell when he'd be anxious to return. He'd get that look in his eye, and she'd know he was ready to go again. Often, Lisa would go with him on his long hauls, which was special times for both of them, sharing their love for adventure together.

In late 2006 Thomas's daugher, Amber, gave birth to his first and only grandchild, Skylar Rose. He was thrilled to be a grand father and referred to Skylar as "Grandpa's Little Grandbaby".

In early 2007, Thomas began developing heart problems, and doctors determined he needed quadruple bypass surgery. His spirits were unsinkable, and his sense of humor shone through before he went into surgery. He told his brother Donn, who was an electrician, that if the power went out during the operation, he wanted him to fix his generator first! Oddly enough, the power did go out during surgery, but the hospital's backups were naturally automatic.

Thomas came through the surgery very well, but suffered an embolism afterward, and sadly died very unexpectedly on Monday, May 21, 2007, at the age of 55.

Thomas was a man who lived for the open road, the adventure of seeing new places, and of meeting new people. He had been everywhere there is to be in this country, yet his times on the road always made him appreciate his life, his loves, and his family, who always called him home. Today his life, and his heart, remains with those he loved most, just as it always did. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his siblings: Donna Ringold, David Ringold, Doreen Leslie. Surviving are his wife Lisa M. Jacobs, his daughters: Amber Elizabeth Kammeraad and her fiancé Jeramie Metzger, Tracy Lynn Jacobs of Cincinnati, his grand daughter Skylar Rose, his sister Dianna (Richard) Locke, his brother Donn (Sharon) Ringold and his in-laws: Kenn Kammeraad and Elizabeth Dobbie and several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Mr. Jacobs reposes at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien - Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. , where relatives and friends may meet his family Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. A service to celebrate Thomas's life will be held during the Thursday evening visiting hours at 8 P.M. Interment will be in Fairplains Cemetery. To read more of Thomas's life, share a memory or picture or sign the online register book please visit www.lifestorynet.com