Dixi Jacobs

On the morning of March 20, 2019, Master Chief (retired) Dixi Putnam Jacobs passed away in his sleep.  A navy veteran of nearly 25 years, he served his country, family and community his entire life.  Born 7 September 1937 in Everett, MA to George and Carolyn Jacobs, he grew up in Maine, having worked fishing from a small skiff and raking blueberries.  He graduated high school from Millbridge, Maine in 1956 and joined the Navy.

The Navy was a very important part of Dixi’s life.  He was proud to have served and happily displayed many paintings, photographs and models of ships and Navy life throughout his home.  He attended “boot” training in Bainbridge, MD and went to Electronics Technician “A” school in Newport, RI.  In 1957 he reported aboard the USS Tanner.  In August of 1961 he transferred to Newport, RI Fleet Training Center where he attended Crypto Repair School before being transferred to Naval Support Naples, Italy.   Dixi spent 3 years in Italy before being transferred to the USS Suribachi, home ported in Jacksonville, FL.  Dixi made Chief on the USS Suribachi.  In 1968 Dixi was sent to Instructor School in Norfolk, VA.  He made E8 and was named the Lead Instructor of the Crypto Repair School.  In 1972, Dixi was transferred to the USS Orion in Charleston, SC.  In 1976, Dixi made E9 and was transferred to Newport, RI as Electronics Material Officer of Communication Station Newport, and then transferred to the Correctional Center, Newport as the Warden of the brig.  On May 17, 1977, he was named Chief Petty Officer of the year by the Navy Affairs Council, and was a finalist for the E10 Master Chief in Washington, DC.  In 1979, Dixi’s last assignment was to Special Ops, Chief of Naval Operations in San Diego, CA.  He retired on September 30, 1980.

In 1959 Dixi was married to Patricia Norton, where they had 2 children, Dixi II and Shirley.  Dixi and Patricia were divorced in 1961. Later that year, Dixi met Eleanor Rosman.  They dated, and eventually married December 1, 1962 in the “Chapel by the Sea” in Newport, RI.  Dixi and Eleanor had 2 children, Robert and Donald.  Upon Dixi’s retirement from the Navy, he moved to Eleanor’s home town of Lake Park, Minnesota, with his in laws, Elmer and Ethel Rosman.  Dixi, with the help of Eleanor’s cousin Bernie Rosman, built a house on a section of the Rosman home place and named it ROSMAN ACRES.

Dixi was an avid coin collector, stamp collector and wood worker.  He was active in the LIONS, LEGION, and his CHURCH (HOUGLUM and CORMORANT).   He was generous with his talents, founding and supporting sports booster clubs, building lighthouses, dollhouses, cradles, and many other things for family and friends.  He and his nephew Danny Olson worked together to build benches out of Cast Iron Drill Ends. If anyone needed a hand, Dixi was always there.  He was a wonderful Father and Husband and will never be forgotten.

Dixi is survived by his wife, Eleanor; brothers Paul and George Jacobs, sister Joan (Donald) Main; sons Dixi (Barb), Robert (Jennifer), Donald (Kristi), daughter Shirley (George) Kelley, grandchildren Emily, Alex, Michael, Katie, Elizabeth and Eric . He is preceded in death by his parents George and Carolyn Jacobs and his parents-in-law, Elmer and Ethel Rosman.