Barbara Jean Jacoby

Barbara Jean (Allen) Jacoby Barb fought the good fight for 97+ years and left us peacefully in her sleep at home on October 3, 2022, joining Albert, her beloved husband of 66 years, in the company of heaven. She is survived by her six children: Albert, Catherine, Curtice, Christine, Charles, and Constance; her seven grandchildren: Abraham, Leila, Marwa, Michael, Andrew, Nicholas, and Brooke; her two great grandchildren: Desi Jr. and Adriel. She was preceded in death by husband Al in January 2021 and grandson Jordan in October 2014. Barb was born on April 25, 1925 to Blanch and Ray Allen in Bay City, Michigan at the home of her maternal grandma Miller. Her parents named her Jean but immediately started calling her Barbara so she officially changed her name later in life to Barbara Jean. The Allen’s initially lived in Birmingham, Michigan but later moved to Detroit’s west side where Blanch worked for the Detroit Public Schools as a librarian and Ray was a surveyor. Growing up as an only child, Barb always wanted a large family of her own and she found a willing accomplice in Al Jacoby. Barb and Al ran in the same social circle on Detroit’s East Side in the early 50’s, going on ski trips in northern Michigan and other social activities before they officially started dating. They were married on October 7, 1955 and started having kids right away with Albert Crane born in June 1956 and finishing with Constance 10 years later in October 1966 on her dad’s birthday. Barb once said that her and Al were having kids so fast most people assumed they were Catholic but they were committed lifelong members of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and belonged to Bethany Lutheran in Detroit, Immanuel Lutheran in Leland, and after moving downstate in 2015 to be closer to family, Trinity Lutheran in Pinckney where she is fondly remembered by the many friends she made in the final years of her life. She will be missed by all that knew her for her easy-going nature, kindness and strong Christian faith. Barb was quick with a smile, sometimes mischievous and even a touch flirtatious, chatting with anyone she met just about anywhere she went, especially the grocery store and church. Although diminutive in size at 5’, Barb was an enthusiastic athlete who enjoyed skiing, bowling, curling, tennis and of course golf. Al and Barb were avid lifetime golfers and shared countless rounds (with and without their kids) at golf courses across North America and the world well into their 80’s. They were active members of Beach Grove Golf & Country Club in Windsor Ontario, Indian Village Tennis Club in Detroit, Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods and finally, Leland Country Club. Her athleticism helped overcome adversities, even a severe stroke at 92 and COVID at 95. Barb enjoyed a lifetime association with Michigan State University, graduating in 1947, the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, and Cooley High School in Detroit, still referring to herself as a “Cooley Girl”. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church 7155 Huron Ave.Lexington, Michigan 48450. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 A.M. on Saturday at the church. Pastor Jacob Buday will officiate. Interment will follow in the Lexington Cemetery, followed immediately by a luncheon at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Arrangments were by the Pomeroy Funeral Home in Lexington.

Barbara Jean Jacoby

April 25, 1925 - October 3, 2022