Sidney Arthur Jacobsen

Sidney Arthur Jacobsen, of Punta Gorda, formerly Bronx, NY, passed away on Saturday, September 20,2025 in Punta Gorda. He was born on August 1, 1937, in Bronx, NY to Thon and Sophie Jacobsen, both now deceased.

Sidney was born and raised in New York and faced a difficult childhood. When his mother became ill, he spent time in an orphanage and was later raised by his older sisters. These early hardships shaped his character and gave him a resilience that would define the rest of his life. Sidney was not one to dwell on his own struggles; instead, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and built a life through determination, grit, and hard work. Sidney attended Automotive High School in Greenpoint, Brooklyn (now A-Tech High School), and later joined the military, where he traveled across Europe and welcomed his first child.

After serving, Sidney returned to New York and began working as a mechanic before starting his own business, Sid’s Truck Repair, in Long Island. In 1981, he moved to Southwest Florida to start a new chapter and founded A&E Truck Service, a diesel truck repair business proudly built on the motto “Through Service We Grow.” Those words were more than a slogan; they were a reflection of Sidney himself. He was a man who believed growth came through service to others. In the years that followed, Sidney’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start other businesses, including Fort Myers Express and Storage on Wheels, ventures that coincided with the region’s rapid development and population growth. Sidney devoted his life to these businesses, embodying the self-made American dream and often reminding people that “a little hard work never killed anyone” and to “stay busy, it keeps you out of trouble.”

Even after retirement, Sidney never truly stopped working. A&E was his second home, and he continued showing up to work every day until it was no longer possible for him to be there. Even when his mobility declined, Sidney continued to work, rolling through the bays on a scooter so he could keep a watchful eye on everything. He offered advice and opinions — sometimes welcome, sometimes not — but always stayed involved. Work, for Sidney, was never just about labor. It was his passion, his purpose, and his way of staying connected to others. He loved being a resource: a mentor for younger mechanics, a sounding board

for other entrepreneurs, a trusted guide for anyone in need of direction. And if the conversation wasn’t about business, it was likely a personal story, a history lesson, or the most detailed driving directions you could imagine. Sidney carried an atlas in his mind and had an encyclopedic memory, both of which he shared generously. People came to him for the kind of perspective only a lifetime of hard work and experience could bring.

Outside of work, one of Sidney’s greatest passions was food. He seemed to know every restaurant in town and favored places with good prices and generous portions. Every waitress knew him by name, and he was a regular at Biggie’s on Fowler Street, Smoke’n Pit on North Tamiami Trail, Anthony’s on Del Prado Blvd, and countless other restaurants over the years. When he wasn’t working or savoring a good meal, Sidney also found happiness on the open road. He traveled widely across North America, once driving all the way

to Alaska in his motor home with his grandson. He often traveled with Lois, his wife of over fifty years, for NASCAR races, country music festivals, or to see distant relatives. To Sidney, America itself was a treasure: a country so vast and beautiful that, as he often said, “there’s so much to see here, you never have to leave.”

Sidney’s legacy is one of hard work, generosity, and respect. He will be remembered as a man who never truly retired in spirit, who wanted success for everyone around him, and who often reminded others that “we learn from our own mistakes, and our own mistakes are often the most costly.” He carried himself with a quiet, steady strength that made him unforgettable and beloved by so many.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lois Jacobsen of Punta Gorda; three children, Kevin Jacobsen (Rhonda) of Cape Coral, Kim Gilman (Craig) of Cape Coral, and Ken Jacobsen of Cape Coral; one sister, Helen Martin of Naples; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral Services to be held Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11:00am at Mullins Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3654 Palm Beach Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33916.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.