Jacob W. Highland

Jacob Wayne “Jake” Highland, 93, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 12:52 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in the Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing of Normal, IL with his family by his side.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL, with Nathan Jesse officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to Shelbyville First United Methodist Church or Shelby County Senior Center. 

Jake was born on March 6, 1931, in Mattoon, IL, the son of Bert Sr. and Blanche (Snapp) Highland. He married Barbara Ann Osburn on February 21, 1954, in Graysville, IN. They were married for 55 years before she preceded him in death January 10, 2010. Jake was a store manager his entire working life, starting first with the Index Corporation. He then owned numerous stores in Shelbyville, including Highland’s V & S and Highland’s True Value. Jake graduated from Sullivan High School and served in the Illinois National Guard, 130th Infantry, 44th Division. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville, where he was active in the Methodist Men’s Breakfast Group. Jake was a former member of the Eastern Star Masonic Order in Danville, IL, Shelby County Republican Central Committee, Shelbyville Lions’s Club, and former president of Shelby County’s Rotary Club.

He is survived by his son, Tim Highland (Karen) of Bloomington, IL; daughter, Susan Adams (Doug) of Greenville, SC; four grandchildren, Travis Highland (Katherine) of Woodbury, MN, Kyndell Highland (Brett Adlard) of Seattle, WA, Connor Adams (Emily) of Murray, UT and Alexis Adams of Vail, CO; four great grandchildren, Emmett Adams, and Harper, Hayes, and Kristi Highland; two sisters, Alda Fridley of Valley Park, MO and Betty Ward of Jackson, MI; and sister-in-law, Joan Highland of Sullivan, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Blanche Highland; brothers, Bert Highland, Jr. and Richard Highland; sisters, Martha Schrodt (Dr. Joseph) and Mary Stone (David); and brother-in-law, Marvin Fridley, Jr.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Loft and Gentiva Hospice for their loving care of Jake during his illness.