Jacob R. McMasters

JACOB McMASTERS, age 48. Devoted husband of Laurie (nee Dominick); beloved father of Nina Soldan, Hope McMasters (fiancé-Andie), and Jennifer Hough (Owen); dear son of Frank and Charmaine, and son-in-law of Cindy and John (deceased) Dominick; loving brother of Frank McMasters Jr. (Lindsey); caring uncle of Chase, Jared and Mason; also survived by cousins and many friends.

Anyone who knew Jake would tell you he was the kindest smartass you could ever meet. The king of the best dad jokes and sadly, a lifelong Browns fan. His family meant the world to him and he worked very hard through his life to take care of his wife and girls, sometimes working 2 or 3 jobs at a time, but still made sure he could pencil in a game of catch or trips around Cleveland to sightsee. This year would have made 25 years of knowing his wife. 

His favorite job was when he worked as a corrections officer with the Cuyahoga County Jail, in fact, he loved to use his uniform to intimidate every boy that was interested in his daughters. He later discovered he had serious heart problems and was forced into disability, which was quite a change of scenery for him. This is where he met many friends that played PlayStation with him at all hours of the night from all over the country. His LVAD turned him into our Iron Man. 

When his kids were young, he regularly would say in his best Batman voice “I am… Batman” and his black Kia Soul was his Batmobile. Now, we’re not saying he was Batman, but let’s just say we’ve never seen them in the same room together. To his daughters, he was always their superhero. 

He was loved by everyone he came in contact with and he sure could make you laugh, even if it was with the hardest eye roll you could muster - he probably felt like he earned extra points if he got an eye roll out of you. He worked very hard the last 2 years to get on the heart transplant list and he never truly gave up. He spent the last month in the hospital as his body slowly shut down, but he was going to keep fighting just like his favorite motivation song (Tubthumping - Chumbawamba). “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you are never gonna keep me down.” 

While we are all deeply saddened to lose one of the brightest lights in our world, we smile thinking about how we know his best friend Dave was waiting for him. They are watching all the wrestling pay-per-views together that Dave missed. He’s also up there finally swimming and riding all the roller coasters - something he missed dearly. 

Funeral services 10:00 am, Tuesday September 19, 2023 at the funeral home. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.

The family will receive friends MONDAY 4-8 PM at the A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY RD., MIDDLEBURG HTS (WEST OF I-71).

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.