David Hill Jacokes

It is with great sadness that the family of David Hill Jacokes announces his passing at home under the care of Hospice, after a courageous battle with brain cancer-glioblastoma, on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at the age of 75 years. David will be lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of nearly 51 years, Jeanette (Mangiapane), their two loving daughters Michele and Karen, and their husbands who they consider their sons, Frank Heffernan and Joey LaClair. He will be fondly remembered as "Papa" to his grandchildren Catherine, Carson, Bryson, and Brynley.
David was born on December 5, 1944 in Shelby, North Carolina to William and Ruth (Putnam) Jacokes. In 1963, he graduated from Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn, Michigan, and entered the Air Force the following year and was assigned to Electronic Communications/Crypto. He served on the front lines of the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge in 1968. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
Upon discharge from the Air Force in 1968 and returning to Michigan, he entered Veterans Hospital in Allen Park, Michigan for military related medical care where he met Jeanette Mangiapane, the hospital's ward secretary. They fell in love and were married on May 23, 1969 and raised two daughters, Michele and Karen. In 1998, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona to enjoy the beautiful, sunny climate.
David's passion for serving others continued throughout his life. He was a lifelong member of VVA, VFW and DAV, and spent his career in voluntary and elected local government positions, notably as the Supervisor of Van Buren Township near Belleville, Michigan for two terms during the late 1980s and 1990s. David loved being outdoors, fishing and boating on Belleville Lake, and later taking day trips to explore the beautiful scenery of Arizona. He also loved to garden and had his own successful landscaping business for several years. He enjoyed working in his workshop almost always having a project underway. He was known for his charisma, quick wit, infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit. He loved telling stories of his military experience and enjoyed any military movie or documentary and westerns.
David was preceded in death by his father, William, his mother, Ruth, and his brothers, William and James, his grandson Brayden, and his beloved dog Ginger who was always at his side.
A military memorial service will be held at a later date at the Veterans National Cemetery in Cave Creek, Arizona.
Donations are greatly appreciated and may be made in David's name to The Hospice Promise Foundation, Northern Arizona at https://lhcgroup.com/foundation/, the Gary Sinise Foundation at https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate/, or Pillows From Preston at http://www.pillowsfrompreston.org/