Sarah Jacobson Remembers her Father, Dave Jones

This is a guest post by Sarah Jacobson, who’s father Dave Jones was diagnosed with kidney cancer and passed away in March 2025.

My father Dave Jones was diagnosed with collecting duct renal cell carcinoma in March of 2024. He had a sister pass from pancreatic cancer several years ago and then a brother diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2024. That led my dad to get screened for pancreatic cancer. His CT scan was negative for it, but it was found that he had stage 4 kidney cancer. He passed on March 4, 2025. 

My dad ultimately passed from rare complications from one immunotherapy treatment. I hope these complications will be learned about more in the future.

My dad is an inspiration for so many reasons. His life wasn’t always easy. He and his siblings ended up in the foster care system when my dad was only 6. He was taken in by a lovely family and was cherished after that.

In 1977 he decided he wanted to start his own plumbing business. He started it in his garage with one employee. Now, in 2025, the business has over 600 employees. He retired about 10 years ago and passed the business along to his children. He and my mom, his wife of 52 years, were living their best life at their lake house and wintering in Alabama.

Dave was involved with several organizations over the years. A firefighter, a Mason – he valued the brotherhood of being a Mason. He also was involved in many plumbing and heating associations. 

Dave was an avid hunter, often taking trips to Alaska and out West. It was a big passion for him.

However, his happiest moments were with his family. He was so proud of his three children and nine grandchildren. A real family man with family values. He was so loved and it showed through the very large turnout at his services.

While it was never spoken about due to my father being a pretty private man, I know the cancer diagnosis was very hard on him. It was very easy for me to read the room when he was around. I can say with certainty this man did not want to be sick, or pass away. It will always make me angry that this had to happen to him

I researched everything I could on his type of cancer. I wanted to be the best advocate for him that I possibly could. I followed his lab and scan results like a hawk, even looking up each and every word that I didn’t understand. We even took him to MD Anderson for a second opinion. No one prepared me for how hard it would be to watch my dad, the man who was always so strong, so smart, decline.

His death has taught me the importance of family, and the importance of cherishing the time that we all have on this earth – time is precious and a thief.