Cornie "Max" "Max" Jacobs

Max Jacobs

New Sharon. (Cornie) Max Jacobs, 86, of rural New Sharon died Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Max was born May 14, 1939, at the old Mercy Hospital in Oskaloosa, the son of Cornie and Ethel Wilson Jacobs. He graduated from Lacey High School with the class of 1956. Following high school Max went to work for Waal and Rexroth Construction in Oskaloosa. After a time there, Max's adventurous spirit called him to California. After a short time, there he realized California wasn't for him and he returned to rural Mahaska County and went back to working construction. On October 21, 1960, he was united in marriage to Arleen Van Weelden at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Following their marriage Max took a job as a farm hand at Howard Johnson's farm. In 1973, Max and Arleen purchased their own farm near New Sharon. Max enjoyed every aspect of the farm but especially tending to his cattle, and horses. He was a member of Central Church in Oskaloosa. He had a lifelong love of horses, and the cowboy life. He was a part of the Iowa State Fair Centennial Trail ride that started in Fairfield and ended on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. He enjoyed attending rodeos, western movies, family vacations out west, also enjoyed roping with his horse Badger at George Springers and local arenas and enjoyed God's beauty in the mountains.

His family includes his wife of over 64 years Arleen Jacobs of rural New Sharon; their children, Sandra Agan of Vail, Iowa, Norman (Margo) Jacobs of Grand Lake, Colorado, and Shari (Jeff) Fox of Oskaloosa; eight grandchildren, Travis (Kyaria Harper) Agan, Hunter (Jessica) Agan, David (Leah) Roose, Shannon Wickerson, Linsey Wickerson, Haley (Adam) Edwards, Cheyanne Jacobs and Jarett Fox; eleven great grandchildren, Raye, Thomas, Kayson, Aria, Arlo, Sirah, Lilly, Kinsey, Kaleigh, and Vidilia; three sisters, Mary McWilliams of Oregon, Jean Ambrose of Montana, and JoAn (John) Bogen of Wyoming; and many nieces and nephews.

Max was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law; John and Willie Van Weelden, and his son-in-law, Tom Agan.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Thursday after 11:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Thursday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to Mahaska County Conservation Environmental Learning Center.