MCLEANSBORO – Mike Lee Jacobs, 71, of McLeansboro, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born on July 14, 1954, in McLeansboro to Charlie and Lovene Jacobs.

Mike graduated from McLeansboro Township High School with the Class of 1972. He then attended Rend Lake College, graduating with his associate degree in 1974. In February 1975, he began working as a setup technician for Continental Tire in Mt. Vernon, where he remained employed for 43 years until his retirement.

In his younger years, Mike played summer league softball in Mt. Vernon. He enjoyed watching sports, particularly baseball and softball, and liked spending time outdoors fishing in the pond at the family farm. He was passionate about volunteering his time and served as a property maintenance manager for Williams Hill Pass OHV Park in Rudiment, Illinois, where he also enjoyed camping in the cabins.

Mike also dedicated himself to helping those struggling with addiction through his service with the Celebrate Recovery Program, ministering to inmates in Harrisburg and to others throughout Southern Illinois. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Harrisburg.

He is survived by his son, Bryan Jacobs of McLeansboro; daughter, Amy Jacobs of McLeansboro; granddaughter, Jayla Gholson of McLeansboro; brothers, Art (Chris) Jacobs of Creal Springs, Larry Jacobs of Arnold, Missouri, and DeWayne (Sue) Jacobs of Wildwood, Missouri; sisters, Janet (Joe) Anderson of Broughton and Cathy (Michael) Tick of Fayetteville, New York; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sue Stasicky of Kankakee; and granddaughter, Audrey Jacobs.

Funeral services for Mike Jacobs will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, at noon at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro, with Pastor Rick Strole officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Concord Cemetery east of McLeansboro.

Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at gholsonfuneralhome.com.