Mildred "Millie" Jacoby

Mildred (Millie) Agnes Jacoby, 89, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 12, 2025, at home surrounded by her loving family. A rosary service will be held at 4 p.m. followed by a visitation from 4 – 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, 1844 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402.  A Funeral Mass will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1790 14^th Street, Marion, Iowa 52302, followed by a Celebration of Millie’s Life luncheon.

The Rosary and the Funeral Mass will be livestreamed. Please find the livestream link on Millie’s obituary page, where you may also share your support with her family, at www.stewartbaxter.com under the Obituaries tab.

Millie was born on August 20, 1936, in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, to Joseph and Mary Martinek, the seventh child, and youngest daughter, out of eleven. Her formative childhood and adolescent years were spent in Decorah, Iowa, learning the delicate balance between respecting your elders and nurturing her younger brothers. She developed near-superhuman emotional and physical strength during her long hospital fight beating Rheumatic fever, earning her special “quiet time” privileges at home, to the occasional dismay of her siblings.  She cherished the lively chaos and love of a large family, bestowing a similar opportunity for her children.

Millie graduated from Decorah High School in 1954. During her freshman year at Mount Mercy College, she met George Jacoby, a handsome Army soldier on leave, and they were married on April 20, 1955.  After George’s discharge from the Army, they moved from Arizona to Marion to build their family, ultimately comprised of Dave (Lynette) Jacoby, Ann (Mike Gott) Jacoby, Kevin (Nancy) Jacoby, Dan (Traci) Jacoby, Chris (Fawn) Jacoby and Bob (Sherri Siegel) Jacoby.  Millie spent the next six decades in the joint capacity of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Jacoby household, where she ran a tight ship to ensure everyone had what they needed.  When encountering unacceptable baloney or sibling skirmishes, Millie supplemented her slight stature with whatever kitchen implement handy, holding marksman status with the wooden spoon.  Her ultimate retribution threat was looking forward to when we had kids.

In addition to her familial C-suite responsibilities, Millie worked in multiple roles at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion, and for the past 30+ years, worked with her youngest son, Bob at Jacoby Estate Sales in Cedar Rapids.  As a well-known trailblazer in the vintage shopping experience, she enjoyed helping in the discovery through sales and disposal stages, always looking for hidden treasures.  The Cedar Rapids estate sale patrons will undoubtedly miss Millie’s warm smile and help at the checkout stand.

Millie was a devout Catholic and 50+ year member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and assisted in any capacity needed.  While embracing progressive, compassionate ideals, she was clearly not “woke”, evidenced by her refusal to use the “he” pronoun for God.

Millie’s most significant contribution to this world is her saintly kindness, compassion, love and generosity.  Millie never uttered a bad word about anyone, nor tolerated any type of hate or discrimination in her presence.  She would give anything she had to help someone that was less fortunate, be it money, food, time or comfort. All family and friends knew they could stop at Millie’s day or night for a rest stop, food and/or lodging.  Homemade rhubarb pie and cinnamon rolls were favorites.

Millie loved to travel, especially with or to visit family.  She enjoyed visiting England and taking an Alaskan cruise, as well as making numerous drives across the country to visit children and grandchildren in Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona, and California.  She loved walking to the beach and spending hours with her feet in the sand and water.  Most important was being with her loved ones.

In addition to her children, Millie is survived by brothers, Mark, Julius, and Daniel Martinek; her cherished grandchildren, Brenda (Jayme Wertz) Freese, Michelle (TJ) Meiners, Kyle Jacoby, Jeremy Jacoby, Matt (Maile) Jacoby, Ellie Jacoby, Anna Jacoby, Mikayla Jacoby and Ryan Jacoby; and great-grandchildren, Carissa (Logan) Conary, Camden Meiners and Kayden Meiners.  Millie also leaves behind a trove of treasured nieces and nephews.

Millie was preceded in death by husband, George; her parents; sisters, Eleanor, Lillian, Eileen, and Sister Ann Therese (Florence); and brothers, James P, Valerian, and James.

Special thanks to Bob Jacoby for generously bringing Mom into his home and providing loving care for the last years of her remarkable life.