Dorothy Jacobs, 81, of New London, died Friday, April 7, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, following a brief battle with cancer.
Dorothy Dale Walter was born December 4, 1941, in Galesburg, Illinois, to Cyrus Dale and Mildred Fay Brown Walter. She graduated from Knoxville High School. On January 1, 1960, she married Everett Martin Jacobs Jr. in Galesburg. She was a homemaker while they raised six children. She volunteered in the New London schools in many activities, such as reading with elementary students and helping fundraise for the Music Boosters as a parent and grandparent. When the youngest children were older, she provided childcare in their home for grandchildren and neighborhood children. She then worked 23 years at the H.J. Nugen Public Library in New London where she was known as “Grandma Dorothy” to many of the youth. She retired from the library in 2017. She also was Baltimore Township Clerk for many years, retiring in 2022. As a long-time member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many positions where she taught children, youth, and adults about Jesus Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Martin; four daughters, Myra (Greg) Thomas of Mt. Pleasant, Martha Bell of New London, Melissa (Bob) Bence of Burlington, and Maureen Jacobs of Bettendorf; one daughter-in-law, Kathy Jacobs of Nauvoo; one son, Maurice (Marlyn) Jacobs of Ocoee, Florida; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lyman (Linda) Walter of Maquon, Illinois, Tom (Kay) Walter of Knoxville, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one infant daughter, Susan Jacobs; one son, Martin Dale Jacobs; two sisters, Carolyn Crouch and Nancy Bucher; and one brother, Jerry Walter.
The funeral service for Mrs. Jacobs will begin at 10:00 a.m. April 22, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2727 Cliff Road, Burlington. President Ryan Sowell will officiate. Burial will follow the service at Biggsville Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon April 21 at Elliott Chapel, New London, with family receiving friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Aid Fund. Those who wish to donate online may do so at www.philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org . Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.