Jacob “Jake” Meyer, age 74, of Wayne, passed Saturday, December 2, 2017.

Jake, a devoted husband who loved his wife Estelle for 48 years and expressed it in so many beautiful ways and she to him.

Jake, loving father, who held his son, Dave and wife, Nancy and his daughter, Sherry and husband Jerry so close to his heart every day.

Jake, kind grandpa who greeted his granddaughters with open arms and big hugs.

Jake, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, who always had a warm welcome for all.

Jake, a man of strong faith in God, a prayerful man who loved family and friends will be missed by so many people.

Jake met his wife Estelle in 1967 after she drove her friend to Chilton Hospital to pay Jake a visit. Estelle first saw Jake in a hospital room and thought to herself... mmm 'he's cute'. She saw him again about a year later at the T-Bowl bowling alley in Wayne. He recognized her immediately as the girl who stopped into his room at the hospital and they hit it off. Little did they know then that quite a few hospital visits would be in their future. They dated for two years and fell deeply in love marrying on June 21, 1969. Over their forty-eight year marriage they became closer and closer as loving companions.

Jake lived with diabetes since a young child, but he never stopped living a full life because of it. Treasured family memories tell his story of a joyful and blest life!

Jake loved gardening and transformed his backyard into a huge garden of tomatoes, corn, beans, strawberries, blueberries and fruit trees. He was always watering, weeding or just fussing in his garden. Jake made the best blueberry pancakes, of course from his homegrown blueberries, and if Estelle allowed him he’d have them seven days a week - for breakfast and for dinner.

Family vacations at the Jersey Shore in North Wildwood is where many memories were made. Jake loved to fish and spent many hours on ocean jetty’s in search of that big one while 'Stelle' relaxed in a cozy beach chair watching and waiting to hear Jake exclaim "I got one"! Jake's fileting skills were evidenced by the fact that no one hardly ever found a bone. Those fileting skills were only outdone by the fact that the one fish he caught could miraculously feed fifteen people! For many years he and Estelle bowled together with his sister Hilda and her husband Don. Estelle recalls that he said if she scored a 110 he would buy her a new bowling ball. That was easy and along came the whole outfit....blue case, blue shoes and blue bowling ball.

Jake’s children Dave and Sherry remember that their Dad was just plain fun. They have such fond memories of their father pitching a tent and building a fort in the backyard, playing baseball , making objects with paper mache, playing arcade games, and Nintendo’s Mario Brothers, which he was an expert at, for hours on end - the list of fun things dad will be remembered for just goes on and on. Many will remember his knowledge of trees and flowers. You could call and ask him anything about those trees or flowers and he had the answer. Whether it was football talk about the NY Giants with his son Dave or gardening tips with his daughter Sherry he was the best resource for all information, he was a smart guy! He also enjoyed watching the NY Yankees with his wife Estelle by his side. Estelle learned the best tips about planting geraniums from her loving Jake and they enjoyed this yearly planting tradition together. Jake, the hunter, even dabbled in taxidermy and mounted very creative displays of game birds. His taxidermy skills and techniques are something he proudly passed on to his daughter Sherry. Jake also had a gift for music. Dave recalls that Dad often had his favorite country music songs playing on the radio and played Christmas carols on an organ even without the sheet music. His musical ear passed onto Dave. Jake enjoyed playing cards with family and friends and after every birthday party or get together a card game would begin with Jake always a player. His granddaughters loved playing cards with Grandpa Jake!

Whenever the kids didn’t feel well Jake would say “Stelle go buy the ingredients so I can make chicken soup.” Jake would make the soup and Estelle’s job was to deliver it. Husband and wife, a good team! Jake had diabetic related pain in his legs and feet for many years but wouldn't dwell on it. He always had a positive attitude, a great sense of humor and he persevered in whatever he needed to do. He enjoyed just chatting with others, he had a great gift of gab, says Estelle and she will so deeply miss it.

Jake was a life long resident of Wayne Township who put his creative touches in landscaping designs in his work with his family of H.Meyer and Sons. Jake also was employed with his father-in-law at North Jersey Textile Co. He was a member of the Preakness Valley United Reformed Church in Wayne. Jake and Estelle were an ecumenical couple who attended both the protestant and catholic churches together for many years.

God and family were very important to Jake. He was “a man of great faith…a privilege to meet and know him…” these were words from his physical therapist who came to the house twice a week. "He left his family and friends many riches…rich memories of love, joy and faith in Christ, which he so readily shared through his words and actions. My dearest Jake is truly with the Lord and his spirit will always remain in us” were beautiful words from his wife Estelle.

Jake was the loving husband of forty-eight years to Estelle (Aldi) Meyer; devoted father of David Meyer and his wife Nancy of Wayne and of Sherry Liguori and her husband Jerry of Salt Lake City, UT; cherished grandfather of Kayla, Shayna, Heather, Chloe, and Sabrina Meyer; much loved son-in-law of Dominic Aldi and the late Estelle Aldi (April 2017); loved brother-in-law of Dominic M. Aldi of Wayne; loved brother of Hilda Tanis of Wayne and the late brother-in-law Don Tanis; loved brother of Janie Koldyk and husband Henri of Vt.; loved brother to Joseph Meyer and wife Pauline of Barnegat NJ; loved brother to Harry Meyer and wife Pat of Wayne; loved brother to Garry Meyer and wife Susan of Wayne and loved brother to the late John Meyer and wife Barbara of Wayne. Jake was the son of late  Harry Meyer, Sr. and Wilhelmina (nee Brain) Meyer.

Flowers are appreciated or those inclined to make a memorial donation are asked to consider the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474.