Harvey Lee Jacobs went to his heavenly home on Friday, October 13, 2023, at the age of 83 after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He passed away at Brookdale Assisted Living Memory Care Center in Wooster, OH under Hospice Care, surrounded by his loving wife Regina and his family.
Harvey was born June 28, 1940, in Orrville, OH to the late Norvel “Pete” and Viola “Babe” Jacobs. He grew up in the Orrville area and graduated from Waynedale High School with the Class of 1958. He met the love of his life in High School, and he loved to tell the story that he was the football player, and she was his beautiful cheerleader. Harvey and Regina (Mullen) married on November 8, 1959, at the East Union Lutheran Church in Wooster, OH. They were members of the Orrville Church of Christ and The Growing Christians Sunday School.
Harvey worked on the family Dairy Farm and at Wooster Livestock Auction when they married. In 1961 he started his career at United Producers Livestock where he managed the livestock yards at Orrville, Farmerstown and Creston for 45 years. In 1964 his dad came to him with the desire to build a racetrack on the family farm so brother Kenny would have a place to race his stock car “fairly”. Harvey jumped right in with his dad and a great team and in 1965 the Wayne County Speedway was born holding its first race in June of that year. Harvey was President, General Manager and Announcer at the Wayne County Speedway for more than 20 years. All the while he and Regina raised 4 kids, raised and sold hogs, and started H Bar J Stables raising champion Appaloosa show horses. They ran a successful breeding & training facility and horse trailer sales business. As a family they traveled all over the United States showing horses.
Harvey was a proud Waynedale Golden Bear. He didn’t miss a single sport or event his children were in and for 30 years you could hear Harvey behind the mic at every Waynedale Home Game as the voice of the Waynedale Football Team. He was inducted in to the Waynedale Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 and was instrumental in raising the funds to build the first Waynedale Wrestling Room.
Harvey was a proud supporter of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, you would find he and Regina at all their events… Football, Wrestling, Cross Country, Track, Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Horse Shows, Dance Recitals, Plays, Musicals and Racing… you name it, they were there. In 2008 they were named Olmsted Falls Wrestling Fan of the Year. In 2005 he was inducted into the Wayne County Speedway Hall of Fame.
When Harvey retired, he learned how to do a lot of wood working projects, ride motorcycles and work on them. He opened Jacobs Motorcycles where he bought and sold many motorcycles but after his diagnosis with Lewy Body working on the motorcycles became too much for him and he closed the shop. He fought the hard fight for the last 8 years.
Harvey is survived by his wife Regina (Mullen), his daughters and son Justine “Tina” (Rob) Heil of Wooster, OH, Randy (Holli) Jacobs of Dover, OH, Tracey (Bill) McGrain of Valley City, OH, Amy (Dean) Worley of Dawsonville, GA. His 10 grandchildren Garrett (Christen) Jacobs of Sugarcreek, OH, Dennis (Marnie) Heil of Wooster, OH, Dustin (Sebastian) Jacobs of Pompano Beach, FL, Zach (Karli) McGrain of Ontario, OH, Jenna (Kyle) Stewart of West Salem, OH, Molli (Ryan) Froman of Sugarcreek, OH, Chaz (Ashley) McGrain of North Ridgeville, OH, Meredith (Josh) Carter of Phoenix, AZ, Randy Jacobs, JR “RJ” (Aubrey) Jacobs, Dover, OH, Mallorie (Hayden) Hairston of New York, NY and 11 great grandchildren Paige and Ava Heil, Kolt and Kendall Stewart, McKinlee, Bo and McKenna McGrain, Logan and Brooke McGrain and Jaxsen and Callie Jacobs. Nieces and Nephews: Kathy Marthey, Kenny (Kim) Jacobs, Susan (Mark) Petit, Lola Phillips, Bud (Ellen) Jacobs, Marybeth (John) Hall, Dean Jacobs, Tamara (Marlin Maddy) Burkey, Tymothy Burkey, Brother-in-law Terry Burkey and God Sons Beau (Holly) Mastrine, Seth (Sarah) Mastrine.
Harvey was preceded in death by his parents Pete & Babe Jacobs, his in-laws Sparkie and Gladys Mullen, Brother Kenneth Jacobs, Sister-in-laws Marrianne Jacobs and Vilet Burkey.
The family would like to thank the Angels that loved and cared for our Dad until his final breath: Kati Bachman, Jami Pittman, Teresa Honis, Crystal Mark, Pam Allen, Krystin Snyder, Della Wright, Ashley Lautenslager, Sineke Mkwananzi, Franklin Owusu and Diane Burkholder,
Our special care givers at Brookdale Assisted Living Memory Care in Wooster, OH.
The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 21st at 11 a.m. at Orrville Christian Church, 925 N. Elm St, Orrville, OH 44667, with Pastor John Mulpas officiating.
Friends may visit the family two hours prior to service (9-11 a.m.) at the church on Saturday.
Private family viewing will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023.
To Celebrate his life… WEAR BRIGHT COLORS!
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare and mail to 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691 or the Waynedale Wrestling Mat Backers and mail to PO Box 165, Fredericksburg, OH 44627.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Love both your parents so much. We pray God will give your family peace and comfort in this time of sadness.
Prayers to all. Peace and treasured memories during this time of sadness.
Regina & family
Saddened by the passing of Harve. Deepest sympathy
My deepest sympathy to Regina and family.
Always admired Harv so much and the Jacobs family. So sorry for your loss. May God be with you always.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss of Harv. He was always so kind. I lift up your family withers for comfort and strength.
What a wonderful life he had! Our thoughts and prayers are with his whole family.
We are sorry for your loss may the Lord comfort you during this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Harv and Regina had a very active life and such a loving family. Love to all!
Sorry to hear of the passing of the “Voice of the Golden Bears”. Was fortunate to see Harv before the Lord took him home. Sending prayers for the Jacob’s family.
Sending prayers 🙏🙏🙏
Regina and family, We are so sorry to hear of Harvey’s passing. Please accept our deepest sympathy. Clyde and Joanne Ebert
I am sorry to hear of Harv’s passing. Harve, Regina & the children were great neighbors. My prayers to all.
My deepest condolences to Regina and family. I got to know Harve briefly in my time in Ohio but still have fond memories of our short time together. He was and is an amazing man with an incredible family. Sending you all love and hope that happy memories of Grandpa J can help you through these difficult times.
My sympathy to the Jacobs families.
I remember the beautiful appaloosas at the farm.
Praying for the Jacobs family during this time. I met Harvey at Wayne County Speedway when Garrett was racing sprint cars and would run into him at Orrville Christian Church later on.
Jim Boreman
Charlotte, North Carolina
Dear Jacobs family, I’m so very sorry to hear about Harvey but so thankful he is with His Savior happy and healthy. I have so many wonderful memories at your house….it was my second home!
My thoughts, prayers and love are with you’all. Jody (Jones) Neff
So very sorry to hear of Harves passing. I have memories of going to the fall roundup in Ashland and all the fun we had there. Jack putting on Harves hat and we all tried to get in at the truck stop on 250 and they wouldn’t let us be seated. I wonder why? Take care Jacobs family.
Regina & family,
So sorry for the loss of your husband. I understand what you are going through because I lost Dave in July 2022. Take comfort in knowing Harv is with Jesus and no longer suffering. Keeping you in my prayers.
Carolyn Goodrich
Our thoughts and prayers are with Regina and all of your family. I have great memories from our childhood with your family.
I always loved hearing his voice at the football games and the racetrack.
My deepest condolences to the Jacobs family. Harvey will be greatly missed here at Brookdale!
Deepest condolences at this difficult time. Continued prayers to all. May God give each of you strength and know how much you are loved. Fill comfort in knowing Harvey is with our Lord and Savior and free of any pain and suffering. Rode my first snowmobile at your house and Tina always had to have a fan going when I spent the night! Wonderful memories. Thanks! Love to all. Jennifer Jones Alcorn and Larry Alcorn
Regina and family – My thoughts and prayers are with you! The Redick men worked with Harve many years marketing their livestock and I had the privilege of working with Harve at Creston Producers for 7 years. The Redicks all thought of Harve as a great man and good friend. I know you have many good memories, as I do, so keep them in your heart and think of them often. I heard many times how proud he was of his family. God bless!!
My deepest condolences to Harvs family. I regret I will be unable to attend his services, but my Thoughts and Prayers will be with all of you. Uncle Terry. ❤️
Regina and family,
My sincere and deepest condolences to you.
Truly a gem that will never be forgotten.
I hold special place in my heart for all of you during this difficult time. Prayers and thoughts are with you.
Remembering fondly, those early days working with Harv and Regina at Wayne County Speedway. Good memories with treasured friends.
We hope you will find comfort in knowing that our thoughts and prayers are with you, as you honor a life well lived.
The Andrews family sends our love and sympathy to the entire Jacobs family. I had the pleasure of knowing Harve for at least fifty years. Although we competed some in the feeder pig business in the 70’s & 80’s there was always a lot of mutual respect between us. Later I had the privilege of working for him at the Creston Market. Our relationship there was more of a friendship than a boss/employee. He was a good manager and always treated customers fairly. He was always so proud of his family and their accomplishments and rightfully so. Sorry I won’t be able to attend the celebration on Saturday as we have plans with my family to be out of town. May God bless you and shed his Grace upon you all.
Our hearts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. We will surely miss all of his fun stories and beautiful laugh❤️
Regina and Family: You have my sincere sympathy upon the loss of Harvey. He is at peace and no longer has to fight his illness. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
To Harvey’s Family and Friends, Our deepest sympathies go out to you. May God, and the many good memories, sustain you; now and also in the future.. Our thoughts and prayers are for you and your families. Sincere condolences from Art Beerys, Smithville, Ohio
To the Jacobs Family…. Sending all of you my love and condolences. May you find peace and healing. Know that we are thinking and praying for you.
Mrs. Jacobs, I am so sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed talking to you when you came to the race track (I’m the lady in the general admission booth) and have missed seeing you both. I hope that you find peace and comfort during this challenging time.
I love you all thoughts and prayers are with you. Harvey was a wonderful loving man. I was honored to of known him and the family and honored to of worked with him he will be deeply missed and loved GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Regina and family,
I am so sorry for your heartbreaking loss Regina. It’s clear you and Harvey had a wonderful family and business life together. Of great accomplishments. Pey
Thanks to Everyone who knew Harve and Blessed our family with Beautiful tributes.. Yes he was a loving, kind and respectful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.. We will All miss him dearly but he is now Enjoying many family and friends in heaven
Regina and Family,
I just heard of Harve”s passing. My deepest sympathies to all. Harve and I had some great times together!!!
Tom Wise