Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend passed away unexpectedly in the comfort of her own home on Sunday, July 28, 2019, following her 40th year attending the Salt River Blue Grass Festival. She was 87 years old. Sylvia Jacobs was born on October 6, 1931, in Lupton, Michigan, to the late Issac and Alice (Blood) Jacobs. She was a proud 1949 graduate of Rose City High School. Sylvia married the love of her life, a lumberjack at the time, Howard R. Erskine; he preceded her in death on January 12, 1996. She was a longtime supporting member of the Midland Center for the Arts. Sylvia was an avid birder and enjoyed watching hummingbirds. She also enjoyed camping and fishing, gardening, and raising her chickens, and studying mycology at the University of Michigan Biological Station in Pellston, Michigan. Sylvia attended many lighthouse festivals throughout the years and was proud of her accomplishment to make it to the top of many.
Surviving are one son and two daughters: Kenneth Erskine of Midland; Joan I. Timmer of Coleman; Karen L. (Randy) Breternitz of Midland; seven grandchildren: Christy Foust of Midland; Danielle (Jeff) Jarrett of Buckley; Jaime Foust of Midland; Richard Pomranky of Midland; Osborn Erskine of Midland; Lorraine Breternitz of Midland; Melissa Breternitz of Midland; four great-grandchildren: Michael, Alyssa, Gabbi, Brody; two brothers: Lincoln (Jeanette) Jacobs of St. Johns; Gabe (Connie) Jacobs of Lupton. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jean Foust; grandson, Warren Pomranky.
A funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 2, 2019, at the W. L. Case and Company Funeral Chapel, 125 E. Saginaw Street, Merrill. Minister Michael Furlo will officiate. Burial will follow at Midland Memorial Gardens. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the funeral chapel on Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Midland Center for the Arts.
Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company
125 East Saginaw Street
Merrill, MI
United States 48637
