Glen "Jake" Babcock

Glen “Jake” Keith Babcock of Derby, passed away January 11^th, 2024, at the age of 86 years old.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.  There will be a private burial at the Derby Cemetery. Everyone is invited to a luncheon at the Derby Community Center following the service. Dress is casual, Jake will be in his bib overalls, so there is no need to dress up!

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Pin Oak Marsh, Jake loved Pin Oak, funds will be used for the rebuilding of the facility.

Glen Keith Babcock was born March 19^th, 1937, in Lucas County Iowa to Harry and Margaret Babcock. They moved to the family farm just south of Lucas Iowa and he later helped welcome his brother Harry “Brud” Babcock.

Jake attended Derby Schools and graduated with the class of 1955. He made many lifelong friends during this time including his best friend, Pearl Teater.

Jake married and to this union 5 children were born; Jake was not the most expressive Dad, but his children knew that he loved them and that is what matters most.

During his 40-year working career Jake drove a bulldozer first for Keith Kent Construction and later for Jay Watsabaugh Construction, even coming “out of retirement” to help Jay when needed. Later in life he also loved raising cattle on the family farm.

In his younger years Jake got the racing bug and spent many years manning the scales at the Derby Racetrack while watching his son Randy race go carts and later was so proud watching Randy race sprint cars. He was a big NASCAR fan and went on many trips to those races with his son Allen, he always talked about how much he loved those times and was so glad to be able to spend that time with him.

Jake was also an outdoorsman and during the early years would hunt and trap to make extra money in the winter months when he could not do construction. His kids may not have had everything they wanted but he made sure they had what they needed! As he got older, he decided to take on turtle trapping, Jake and his companion Helen spent many hot summers together trapping and selling turtles then taking the money they made to take trips and visit friends and family.

If you knew Jake, you knew he had an awesome sense of humor! He had a nickname for everyone he met. He would tell us stories and we usually had no clue who he was talking about because he never used their real names! Jake always had a story, saying or as his son in laws would say…if you want to be entertained or get some gossip, sit by Jake!

Jake was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Brud and his beloved son Randy.

He is survived by his children: Deb (Bruce) Ansley of West Des Moines, Iowa, Allen of Newton Falls, Ohio, Larry of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sara (Doug) Witt of Indianola, Iowa. 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. The love of his life Helen Allen of Chariton, Iowa, and her children and grandchildren.