Mark S. Jacobs

Mark S. Jacobs, age 70, a resident of Wheeling, IL, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Mark Jacobs was born on November 9th 1955 in Evanston, IL. He lived in a 2 bedroom apartment in Evanston with his Grandparents, 2 uncles, an aunt, his mother and father and a brother who was just 15 months older than him. His parents divorced before he was a year old. Soon he and his brother moved to Wilmette with his grandmother, aunt and dad. Mark never knew his mom growing up but through God’s grace he was able to be connected with her in 2013 and found out that she had become a believer and had prayed for him each day that he and his brother would become men of God and that they would someday be reunited either here on earth or in heaven. His earthly reunion was so touching and I’m sure their heavenly reunion was more than we can even imagine.

When Mark was a child his dad would take him and his brother to Skokie Valley Baptist Church just down the road from their home. It was there when he was just starting high school that he was invited to a youth retreat where he realized that the Lord of the universe loved him and died for him and God got a hold of his heart and he accepted Jesus as his Savior. He would later tell others that after he became a Christian he went from a shy kid who got C’s and D’s on his report card to being an A student. The youth pastor of the church, Gordan Ellison, asked Mark if he could mentor him and every week they would meet. Gordon told Mark “some people invest in stocks and bonds but I am investing in you” Gordon faithfully discipled Mark the rest of his high school years and Mark often said he felt like Timothy being taught by the apostle Paul. At the same time Mark started attending Campus Life where Robert and Bobby Wohlgmuth were his leaders. Robert would come to Mark house and have a morning Bible study with some of the campus life guys. At Campus Life Mark met his best friend Rusty Anderson. The Anderson family became like a second family to Mark as they took him on family vacations and treated him like another son. Throughout high school he continued to grow in his faith and decided to attend Wheaton College. After college he attended Loyola Dental School following in his father’s footsteps. While at Loyola he started a Bible study. The priests at the school were so thrilled that a student wanted to lead a study of the Bible that they would stuff flyers in all the students' mailboxes.

Mark met Donna at his friend Tom Muller's wedding in 1978. They married in August of 1980. Mark started teaching at Loyola and started working in a dental office in Melrose Park. After 2 years of being an associate in the office he had the opportunity to buy the practice. He practiced Dentistry in the same office in Melrose Park for over 40 years, much of that time with Yesenia Lopez as his assistant and office manager. He loved the craft of dentistry, but especially loved caring for his patients. Many of his patients became some of his closest friends. Even sick with terminal cancer, he continued to work as much as he could because he loved his work and patients.

Mark and Donna were blessed with a son and Mark realized that he loved being a dad. His son Andrew was always with his daddy whenever he could be and their world came crashing down when Andrew died suddenly at only 18 months old. Mark would talk about how God walked with them in that hard time. Soon they were blessed with a son, Joshua and a daughter Bethany. He loved his children deeply and loved spending time with them cooking, playing and laughing. He also loved to spend time with his many nieces and nephews, and grandchildren and grand nieces and nephews, launching rockets, swimming and playing games because he was always a kid at heart.

He loved music his whole life and started taking voice lessons in College and after he graduated. His long time voice teacher Don Doig connected him to many churches and opportunities to sing the Messiah and lead worship. Later in life he learned to love the banjo, which he considered the happiest instrument. His joy for the Lord was seen whenever he would sing or play. He always saw his music as a ministry whether it was for a full church or just a living room full of family. He also loved supporting and participating in ministry, especially Young Life and the Continuous Flame Prayer conference.

If he were here today, he would tell you about how God worked in his life, how he was freed from shame and brought into the light of God only through his grace.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna; his children Josh (Katie) Jacobs & Bethany (Ryan) Christie; his grandchildren Mark, Bobby, Peter & David Jacobs and Bear, Birdie, Johannah & Caleb Christie; his siblings Mike (Sue) Jacobs, Liz (Scott) Ohlert, Jay (Michelle) Bodenshok, Phil (Dolly) Bodenshok & Vicky Isensee. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son Andrew Jacobs; his father Paul & his wife Sheila; and his mother Hideko Isensee.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at The Orchard Church, 1330 N Douglas Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will be held at Fairview Memorial Park in Northlake, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Naperville Christian Academy or Religion Research Institute (RRI).

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.