Obituary for DOMINIC J. "Dukey" JACOBETTI Jr.
Dominic Joseph Jacobetti, Jr., known as ‘Dukey,’ 77, passed away peacefully at the family’s Teal Lake residence on Thursday evening, February23, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, and under the care of Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice.
Dukey was born February 15, 1946 to Dominic J. and Marie D. (Burnette) Jacobetti, Sr. He was raised in Negaunee, graduating from Negaunee St. Paul High School in 1965. During those years, Dukey was often playing basketball, the sport he loved, rain or shine, at outdoor courts around the area. Widely known in UP basketball circles as a prolific long-range scorer, he led the Emeralds to a Class D State Finals appearance in 1963, and went on to play college basketball at Northern Michigan University. Continuing to play into his 50’s, Dukey enjoyed the camaraderie and competition of the Negaunee City League and Negaunee Invitational Tournament. He was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Dukey worked for the N.I.C.E. Community School District as a K-8 Physical Education teacher until his retirement. While there, he took an early coaching stint with Champion High School, and was a Driver’s Education teacher. He also managed summer crews for MDOT for several years.
In his free time in earlier years, Dukey played in a local horseshoe league, and tended a big garden in his yard during the summers. He enjoyed socializing at local Negaunee establishments. He enjoyed yard work and took pride in always keeping a nice lawn. Dukey also enjoyed watching college basketball and the Green Bay Packers. In later years, he looked forward to his occasional trips to Laughlin, Nevada.
Mr. Jacobetti was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, Negaunee, and over various years, Knights of Columbus, Negaunee, as well as Negaunee Elks Lodge, #1116.
Dukey loved his family, and he had a caring spot in his heart for the less fortunate, much like his father, Dominic Sr., before him.
Surviving are his sister, Judith (Gene) Furey and brother, Colin (Paulette) Jacobetti; his sons, Dominic J. ‘Dukey’ (Lisa) Jacobetti III and Anthony (Danielle) Jacobetti; daughters, Julie Jacobetti with special friend Jeff Dauphinais, and Traci Jacobetti; former wife, Deborah (Gunnar) Korpinen; special friend, Sharleen ‘Sis’ Bianchi; his beloved grandchildren: Nicholas Jacobetti and Natalie Kinnunen, Anthony, Isabella and Maci Jacobetti, Caleb Hautamaki and Brenden Dauphinais, and Adriana Silveira-Jacobetti; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dominic J. ‘Puga’ Jacobetti, Sr.; his mother, Marie Jacobetti; and former wife, Karen (Korpinen) Jacobetti.
The Jacobetti family would like to express their special thanks to ‘Sis’ Bianchi for her dedicated, unrelenting, and loving care of Dukey during his most trying days.
Honoring Dukey’s wishes, private family services will be held prior to entombment at Northland Chapel Gardens. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Dukey’s memory to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry.
Mr. Jacobetti’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com
Dukey was born February 15, 1946 to Dominic J. and Marie D. (Burnette) Jacobetti, Sr. He was raised in Negaunee, graduating from Negaunee St. Paul High School in 1965. During those years, Dukey was often playing basketball, the sport he loved, rain or shine, at outdoor courts around the area. Widely known in UP basketball circles as a prolific long-range scorer, he led the Emeralds to a Class D State Finals appearance in 1963, and went on to play college basketball at Northern Michigan University. Continuing to play into his 50’s, Dukey enjoyed the camaraderie and competition of the Negaunee City League and Negaunee Invitational Tournament. He was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Dukey worked for the N.I.C.E. Community School District as a K-8 Physical Education teacher until his retirement. While there, he took an early coaching stint with Champion High School, and was a Driver’s Education teacher. He also managed summer crews for MDOT for several years.
In his free time in earlier years, Dukey played in a local horseshoe league, and tended a big garden in his yard during the summers. He enjoyed socializing at local Negaunee establishments. He enjoyed yard work and took pride in always keeping a nice lawn. Dukey also enjoyed watching college basketball and the Green Bay Packers. In later years, he looked forward to his occasional trips to Laughlin, Nevada.
Mr. Jacobetti was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, Negaunee, and over various years, Knights of Columbus, Negaunee, as well as Negaunee Elks Lodge, #1116.
Dukey loved his family, and he had a caring spot in his heart for the less fortunate, much like his father, Dominic Sr., before him.
Surviving are his sister, Judith (Gene) Furey and brother, Colin (Paulette) Jacobetti; his sons, Dominic J. ‘Dukey’ (Lisa) Jacobetti III and Anthony (Danielle) Jacobetti; daughters, Julie Jacobetti with special friend Jeff Dauphinais, and Traci Jacobetti; former wife, Deborah (Gunnar) Korpinen; special friend, Sharleen ‘Sis’ Bianchi; his beloved grandchildren: Nicholas Jacobetti and Natalie Kinnunen, Anthony, Isabella and Maci Jacobetti, Caleb Hautamaki and Brenden Dauphinais, and Adriana Silveira-Jacobetti; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dominic J. ‘Puga’ Jacobetti, Sr.; his mother, Marie Jacobetti; and former wife, Karen (Korpinen) Jacobetti.
The Jacobetti family would like to express their special thanks to ‘Sis’ Bianchi for her dedicated, unrelenting, and loving care of Dukey during his most trying days.
Honoring Dukey’s wishes, private family services will be held prior to entombment at Northland Chapel Gardens. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Dukey’s memory to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry.
Mr. Jacobetti’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com