Dana Jacobs

To everyone she encountered along her life journey, Dana Jacobs was a blessing to know and love. She exuded warmth and care to all, and with the grace of an angel and a smile that could light up a room, Dana lived each day with a genuine, energetic spirit full of compassion and love. Her giving heart knew no boundary, and her faith was exemplified in the way she lived. Although now gone from our sight, Dana leaves a loving legacy to be forever remembered by those she touched with ways all her own.

Dana’s life began on August 24, 1967, in South Bend, Indiana, when she was born the precious daughter of Leslie and Beverly (Miller) Selig. From a young age, Dana’s sweet spirit shown bright as a very giving child. The youngest of four children, Dana enjoyed a childhood typical of her generation all while being raised in faith. She was somewhat shy and reserved, yet she enjoyed her school years. She was an avid horse rider, and over the years she earned many trophies for her English style of riding. Having attended the local schools, Dana did well with her studies. In many ways, she was ahead of her time in combining words to shorten sentences, and later, her children came to keep a book of her ingenious words. This worked quite well for Dana, although sometimes she’d get her words mixed up, such as, “Don't come into the kitchen with your feet on!”

Dana went on to graduate from John Adams High School. Always somewhat athletic, she loved volleyball and even played in a city league for a time. Dana also enjoyed cross-country skiing, cross-country running, and swimming. On July 27, 1991, Dana married her life’s companion and helpmate, Daniel Jacobs in South Bend. Dana took on Dan’s two children, Nathan and Andrea and loved them as her own, and later they welcomed their three children together, Carson, Talia, and Hope who completed their happy family. As a family, they enjoyed much, especially family vacations each year to their cabin in Pennsylvania. One of Dana’s favorite places was Destin, Florida. In fact, she and Dan spent their 25th wedding anniversary there.

While her children were growing up, Dana was a stay-at-home mother and home-schooled her children which were a very important part of her life. Dana made a good home for Dan and the kids, and when they built their home in Goshen, Dana was right there to help with all phases of the building process. In all ways, she was a loving, godly and biblical example of all a wife and mother should be. Yet with faith as her guide, Dana felt her God-given purpose in life was to care for the children of Kenya. She and Dan together shared a heart and calling for serving others, and as members of the Nappanee Missionary Church they set out in faith to become missionaries.

A huge step of faith, Dana went on to serve at the Africa Gospel Church Baby Center alongside her husband who did so under World Gospel Mission. Dana’s love for her own children and for the children of Africa meant everything to her. The orphaned children of Kenya were particularly special to her and she committed herself to caring for them, sharing her love openly and generously with each of these children. Dana felt it a privilege and honor to be a part of their lives, and it was absolutely magnificent to see her deep devotion and dedication to them. In all ways, Dana allowed and opened her heart to be used as the Lord’s hands caring for these precious lives.

Just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, Dana lived her life with quiet strength and although very intelligent, her shyness was often mistaken for aloofness. So far from the truth, Dana was deeply compassionate in all she did and was quite sacrificial as she always thought about the needs of others before her own. God loving, she was very humble by way of word and deed. Even though Dana had been through many years of trials with her health, she truly gave her all for God’s purpose. It was clear to see how much Dana loved her husband, her children, and the rest of her family. An amazing woman of God, the impact she made in the lives of others is monumental.

On Friday, January 13, 2017, Dana was lifted into God’s arms after a relatively brief illness. What happened? Many have asked that question, and wondered too, how it came on so quickly. Dana’s loving husband, Dan, explains it this way: “All we do know is this. She developed a cough and had some fatigue in late October. Lab results showed nothing wrong at that time. As December came, she was still struggling with the cough, we did more labs and a chest x-ray. It appeared she had an infection, possibly pneumonia. On the 20th of December, she started treatment for that. Then on January 2nd she showed slight jaundice in her eyes. We had decided that we would go back to the U.S. with Carson on the 21st of January and get her checked out again. On January 9th we went to Tenwek Hospital to check further into her breathing issue, and coughing. While there, it was apparent that her liver and her kidneys were severely compromised. The Doctors still thought that we could get her in shape to fly. In fact on Wednesday the 11th, I purchased our plane tickets to leave on the 21st. Thursday she developed a problem with keeping her blood pressure up. The Doctors got her meds from Nairobi to boost her blood pressure. She was stable and responsive until 5:00am the morning of the 13th. She suddenly took a downward turn, and at just8:00am local time in Kenya, Dana passed from my arms to Jesus’.

Many have said, “What if...?” Please do not go there. Dana had the best care possible and was in a place where the staff live by the motto, “We treat, Jesus Heals.” Dana and I both knew that God could heal her wherever she was as he did in 2013. Jesus did answer our prayer, He just decided to take her home this time to heal her. Please know that the children and I are at peace with the decision made. God is sovereign, God is all knowing, He is all powerful, and He loved Dana more than all of us together. His soldier had done her part, and it was time for her to get her reward and to rest.

We as her family will never forget her sweet spirit, her infectious smile, and her contagious laugh. The children of Kenya will never forget the love she shared, the sacrifice she made. The Africa Gospel Church will never forget the white woman who came from America to take care of their orphaned and abandoned children, serving with the full measure of her being, ever to death. Dana is in glory, we rejoice for her. For me and the family, only God can soothe the great loss, the great pain that we are experiencing. As her husband of more than 25 years, I am proud and privileged to have been her partner in life, and to fully understand, ‘and the two shall become one flesh’.”

Having touched many lives around the world, Dana’s absence will be deeply felt. For those who knew and loved Dana, their comfort is found in knowing she is now with her heavenly Father, and completely healed. Although gone much too soon, her heart lives on.

Dana Jean Jacobs, age 49, of Goshen, was promoted to Glory on Friday, January 13, 2017 at Tenwek Hospital, Bomet, Kenya, East Africa. Surviving is her husband, Daniel Jacobs; son, Carson Jacobs, Taylor University, IN; daughters, Talia (Bryson) Bauer of Goshen, Hope Jacobs, Ngata, of Kenya; stepchildren, Nathan (Tiffany) Jacobs, of Granger, Andrea (John) Garnett of Mishawaka; grandchildren, Elisabeth Mathis, William Garnett, Miriam Garnett, Audrey Lilly; parents, Leslie and Beverly Selig of South Bend; sisters, Debbie (Bill) Cook of Wakarusa and Dawn (Terry) Powell of Dowagiac, MI. Dana was preceded in death by a brother, Douglas Selig.

Family and friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Nappanee Missionary Church Chapel and one hour prior to the 10:00 AM funeral service, Saturday, January 28th at Nappanee Missionary Church. Pastor Dave Engbrecht will officiate and burial will be in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the AGC Baby Centre or to Susan Komen Breast Cancer Awareness. Arrangements are with Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee.