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The community will have the chance Sunday afternoon to say thanks to longtime area family physician Dr. Donald Jacobs.
Local families, physicians, nursing and medical center staff and others are invited to Pine Grove Country Club, 520 W. Hughitt St. in Iron Mountain, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday to honor Dr. Jacobs and his wife, Sally, for decades of service in Dickinson County.
Dr. Jacobs, 95, recently retired after 66 years practicing family medicine in the region, during which he'd see at least three generations of patients in the Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin. He'd help bring 529 boys and 518 girls into this world from 1959 to 1986. Along with his Iron Mountain practice, Dr. Jacobs operated a clinic in the Felch Township Community Center from 1996 to 2018.
Dr. John Loewen, who helped organize Sunday's event, said of Dr. Jacobs in his twice-a-day radio spot:
"Don practiced medicine the old way. House calls. Free care. Late late nights. Constant phone calls. Up at night for surgeries and deliveries. And Sally tolerated it all. When I say, 'Don, why didn't you retire in your 60s like everybody else seems to do, you know? Take as much as you can as soon as you can and do as little as you can and stay as healthy as you can.' Don just smiles and says, 'You know, John, I always wanted to be a pitcher, not a catcher.' So then I say, 'Well, Don, why are you quitting now at 95?' He goes, 'Well, you know I'm in renal failure and I've been practicing with dialysis twice a week. Well now they've upped my dialysis to three times a week. It just doesn't leave me enough time to practice medicine.'"
The public is encouraged to attend. Free food and beverages will be provided.
The program will feature speakers starting at 2:30 p.m. and several proclamations, including from the state of Michigan and from the University of Michigan, where Dr. Jacobs got his bachelor of science degree in 1954 and graduated from medical school in 1957.
The Iron Mountain City Council's official resolution reads:
"Whereas, Dr. DONALD JACOBS has exemplified the virtue of care and compassion by serving as a family medicine doctor in our community for 66 years;
and
"Whereas, DR. DONALD JACOBS served the community through his professional vocation of providing patient-oriented comprehensive medical care;
and
"Whereas, Dr. DONALD JACOBS utilized his medical training to support youth sports by providing free athletic physicals and on-field support, and
"Whereas, Dr. DONALD JACOBS advanced the community through his volunteer efforts with Kiwanis and The Orthodox Church;
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iron Mountain City Council hereby expresses its deepest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Donald Jacobs for his steadfast dedication and outstanding leadership;
and
"Be It Further Resolved, that this Resolution constitutes a continuing honor and to serve as a reminder of the dedicated service rendered by:
"Dr. Donald Jacobs
"Dated: July 6, 2026
"Dale Alessandrini, Mayor
"presented to Dr. Donald Jacobs for and on behalf of the Mayor, City Council, and the Citizens of the City of Iron Mountain"
The Daily News' profile of Dr. Jacobs can be read on the website at https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2026/07/a-win-win-dr-jacobs-reflects-on-a-lifetime-of-care/.