Robert Arthur Jacques

Obituary Robert A. Jacques The Honorable Robert A. "Bob" Jacques passed away after a brief illness on Monday, November 26, 2012 at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by his Father Louis S. Jacques and his Mother Anne Egger Jacques, his former wife Dolores O'Connell Jacques, daughter Margaret A. Jacques, and former brother in law John J. O'Connell. He is survived by his sister Lois Nelson, his brother Daniel Jacques (Lee), his children Robert Jacques, Kevin Jacques (Janet), Sara Bilski (John), Anne Phelps, Christopher Jacques (Donna Lee), Catherine Boardman (Jim), John Jacques, 18 grand-children and step-grandchildren, 3 great grand-children, many nieces and nephews, and former wife Bernice Zeleski Jacques and her children and their families. Our father lived a storied life. He was born on December 11, 1919 in Grand Junction Colorado. Louis Jacques moved his young family to Tacoma in 1926 to build and manage a new factory, the Latimer-Goodwin Chemical Co. The Jacques family finally settled to a farmstead in Fife. Dad attended Holy Rosary Catholic School, Bellarmine Preparatory School (class of 1937) and St. Martin's College. During WWII, Dad attended the William Jewell College of Missouri and Iowa University. Dad then served with the Navy Air Corps on both Atlantic and Pacific Coast Patrols. In May of 1945, Dad married his sweetheart Dolores O'Connell. After the war, Dad attended the University of Washington where he received his Bachelors of Arts, and then he attended the University of Washington School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1951. After law school, Dad and Mother returned to Tacoma to raise their growing family in the North End of Tacoma. Dad entered into public service in 1951 as a Pierce County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Dad acquired a remarkable record in his four and one half years in the prosecutor's office. In 1955, he left his position as the chief civil deputy prosecutor to build the law firm of Binns, Jacques, and Petrich with the remarkable John Binns and his childhood friend and Bellarmine classmate John A. Petrich. In 1963, Governor Albert D. Rosellini appointed Dad to the Pierce County Superior Court Bench to Department 6. After 18 years of judicial service, he retired from the Pierce County Bench in 1981. During our growing-up years from the 1950's through the 1980's, Dad was integrally involved in local chapters of the Elks Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the Democratic Party. He also was an avid sportsman. During WWII, Dad was a champion Naval Boxer, as was his brother Dan. Golfing was Dad's favorite sport. He was an amateur golf champion, and he spent many early Saturdays on the links at Allenmore Golf Course, and some Saturday afternoons with his eyes closed while he "watched" golf tournaments on TV. Dad was an early member of RMI and the Mountaineers. Dad reached the summit of Mount Rainier many times. With RMI, Dad achieved a specialty in being a guide through the ice caves on Rainier. Dad was a fantastic fisherman. He spent many wonderful trips to Westport, Washington and up to Alaska, after which he brought home huge King Salmon and gargantuan King Crab. Dad was a marvelous swimmer and diver, he loved to be on the water and sailed to Vancouver and Victoria BC regularly with good friends and loved ones. After retiring from the bench, Dad enjoyed travelling all over Washington, and to other parts of our great country camping and fishing. To many, Dad had a sharp legal mind and was a tough and fair administrator of justice. To us who knew him best, he was a man with a keen wit, a twinkle in his eye, and a great love for his family. We shall miss him sorely, he was a Giant. Our family wishes to thank the staff at Narrows Glen, Laurel House and Park Rose Rehab Center for the gentle care and humor they shared with Dad during those last weeks and years. A vigil service will take place at Gaffney Funeral Home at 7:00 pm on Friday, November 30th, 2012. A Funeral Mass for Dad will be celebrated on Saturday, December 1st, 2012 at 11:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Tacoma, Washington. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.