RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Claude H. Jacobs, also known as Jake age 85 of County Highway # 25A passed away peacefully on Tuesday January 22, 2013 in Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown.He had the comfort of his loving family at his side. Claude was born on March 29, 1927 on Christian Hill, son of the late Charles and Mertie Thompson Jacobs.A lifelong area resident he was raised and educated in Pierstown and Cooperstown.For forty years he was a truck driver with the Teamsters Union Local # 182 in Utica. He retired in May of 1981. Mr. Jacobs had a strong faith in God and was a member of the Schuyler Lake Universalist Church. He was at one time a member of the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Department and had served as Fire Chief. Claude was a man with a wide variety of talents. In his leisure time he enjoyed playing golf.He was interested in local history and spent many hours talking with his good friends, Bill Watson, Fran Crist and Hank Zigon.He had exceptional mechanical abilities, helping friends with their automobile problems as well restoring his 1941 coupe.He was a hard worker and had built a house on his own, digging the foundation by hand. Claude will always be remembered as a kind hearted man who loved animals and took many of them in. To his many friends he will be greatly missed. Surviving are his devoted partner and companion of forty-two years, Alice Tomasi, one son, Norman Jacobs of Richfield Springs, three daughters, Claudia McHaffie of Loudonville, Patricia Brunner and her husband Clifford of Cooperstown, Karen McCormack and her companion Kevin Harrison of Ballston Spa, a brother, Fred Jacobs and his wife Evelyn of Deansboro, two sisters, Helen Thompson of Fayetteville, PA, Josephine Colburn of Garrettsville, nine grandchildren, Kelly Maynard and husband Matt, Brian Jacobs and wife Katrina, Amy Parr and husband Keith, Lisa Lippitt with husband Matt, Clifford Brunner and wife Natasha, Stacey Covert and husband Darrell, Gregory Hext, Kristen Hext and companion Luke Bailey, and Dimples, Mindy Seaver and husband Daniel, nine great grandchildren, Jeremiah and Sarah Parr, Kayla Ramirez, Hazel and Abraham Lippitt, Robert, Lela and Luke Seaver and Schuyler Maynard, several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Peter Jacobs, one sister Evelyn Fuller. Funeral service for Mr. Jacobs will take place later this spring in the Schuyler Lake Universalist Church at a time to be announced.Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Richfield Springs Volunteer Fire Department or the Susquehanna SPCA.Envelopes will be available at the church service. Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.