Born: September 10, 1922
Died: December 31, 2009
Married: Henry Jakobe
Children: Henry G. Jakobe Jr.
Virginia Ellis Jakobe was an art teacher at Saranac Lake Elementary School from 1970 until her retirement in 1990; she lived at 12 Rockledge Lane.
She and her husband turned the deconsecrated Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Bloomingdale into an antique shop called "The Sign of the Fish" open summers only. They subsequently turned the former Cohen Hardware store on New York Route 3 into another antique store that was open spring, summer and late fall.
She was a member of St. Luke's Ladies Guild.
Virginia E. Jakobe
SARANAC LAKE — Virginia E. Jakobe, 87 of 47 Rockledge Lane, Saranac Lake, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 at the Adirondack Medical Center.
Born in Molino, Mo. on Sept. 10, 1922, she was the daughter of Clyde and Lucy (Baker) Ellis. She married Henry George Jakobe Sr. Feb. 23, 1963 in Bonne Terre, Mo. Her husband predeceased her July 8, 2005.
Mrs. Jakobe received her bachelor’s degree at NE Missouri State University in 1946 and a master’s degree at Columbia University in 1960.
She worked as a certified elementary art teacher in both Missouri and New York states. She taught at Ellis School, Molino, 1940-43; Art and English at Marceline School 1943- 44; was a remedial teacher at Berkley School 1944-46; Elementary Art at Maplewood School 1946-54; and University City Schools 1954-63, all in Missouri.
She and her husband vacationed at the Jakobe Family Camp, Sylvia Lake, St. Lawrence County, fell in love with the Adirondacks and decided to move here. Her husband, also an art teacher, secured a position in the Saranac Lake High School. The couple purchased a home at 47 (then 12) Rockledge Lane, settled in there with 3-year-old son, Henry, and joined St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and gradually entered community life. Mrs. Jakobe became Saranac Lake Elementary School art teacher in 1970, remaining until her retirement in 1990. She served as editor of “Show Me Art” 1962-64 and was originator of the Children’s Art Exhibit at the Saranac Lake Elementary School with annual spring exhibits in the Saranac Lake Free Library Community Room. She served as president of the P.T.A. from 1968-69. She was a member of the N.Y. State Art Teachers Paint and Palette and Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as secretary several years.
Besides art, she and her husband shared a passion for antiques. On discovering that the village of Bloomingdale was considering razing the deconsecrated Episcopal church, they offered to buy it, cleaned it out and opened “The Sign of the Fish,” an antique shop open during the summer.
Encouraged by the success of their first venture, her husband rented then bought the closed Bloomingdale Cohen Hardware store and opened “Winter Place” on state Route 3. It also operated in summer but also early spring and late fall.
Mrs. Jakobe enjoyed fine food and herself was a gourmet cook, becoming a legend among those who dined in their home. Many of her dinners had elaborate themes combining art and food.
She was an active member of St. Luke’s Ladies Guild, working Wednesdays in the Budget Box and selling raffle tickets at the recent Bazaar.
She is survived by one son, Henry G. Jakobe Jr., his wife Jessica E. and one grandson, Tucker William, all of Rainbow Lake; two sisters: Mary Ann Tilden of St. Louis, Mo., and Elsie Jones of McPherson, Kan.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Latta and Dorothy Byram.
The Fortune-Keough Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician with the Rev. Anne Gaillard officiating. Burial will take place in the family plot in Bonne Terre, Mo.
Friends wishing to remember Virginia Jakobe may make donations to the Saranac Lake Free Library or St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in care of the funeral home.
January 4, 2010
