The pair had been married for 57 years and were 'devoted' to each other, an obituary says. The Jacobs Family The deaths of Irwin and Alexandra Jacobs at their mansion in Orono has been confirmed as a murder-suicide. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that 77-year-old Irwin Jacobs shot and killed his wife Alexandra, also 77, before turning the gun on himself. Both died from gunshot wounds at their estate at 1700 Shoreline Drive in Orono on Wednesday. The motive behind the murder-suicide is still under investigation by Orono Police Department. In an obituary released by their family on Friday, the pair is described as "devoted parents and grandparents who prioritized and valued their family above all else." The pair had been married for 57 years and "their love for one another was inspiring." They are survived by five children and eight grandchildren. Irwin Jacobs was a prominent Twin Cities-based businessman "with an appetite and skill for making a deal." Known by some as "Irv the Liquidator," he had an "amazing ability to see the value in companies in ways that others could not." In 1975 he bought the Grain Belt Brewery alongside another prominent Twin Cities entrepreneur, "close friend" Carl Pohlad, and went on to lead many more corporate acquisitions over the years. He was part-owner of the Minnesota Vikings, and helped build the COMB Company, which later became part of the Cable Value Network that would eventually spawn QVC. He also went on to own and operate Genmar, the world's largest boat builder, and also served as the chairman of the 1991 Summer Special Olympics in the Twin Cities, one of the many philanthropic endeavors he pursued. Alex an 'extraordinary friend' with a passion for painting Alex Jacobs was raised on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis and "dedicated her life to raising her five children including a daughter with special needs." "Alex was an extraordinary friend who loved to laugh above all things. Her passion was painting. She painted extensively in oil and watercolor, inspired by her world travels as well as everyday life," the obituary said. "She was a very accomplished painter but approached it out of her love, not to impress or receive recognition. She was a gracious host, and along with Irwin, loved to entertain. Alex will be remembered for her warmth, beauty, smile and joie de vivre, as well as her sense of humor." Media reports noted that Alex had recently started using a wheelchair for health issues. A celebration of their lives will be held on Monday afternoon at the Lafayette Club at Minnetonka Beach.<doc-sep>'Whoever Is Watching This, They're Going To Get A Thrill': Willy T. Ribbs, Paul Tracy, Ernie Francis Jr. Discuss Superstar Racing ExperienceThe Superstar Racing Experience inaugural season begins on June 12 at Stafford Speedway. 'Rugrats' Voice Actors E.G. Daily And Cheryl Chase Call New Animation Style 'Brilliant': 'Every Time They Would Show Us We Would Just Gasp''In the words of Chuckie Finster, "Looks like a giant step to me" as the 90's classic Rugrats returns with all-new episodes and a slick modern animation style on Paramount+. WATCH: Caroline D'Amore Discusses 'Surreal' MTV's 'The Hills: New Beginnings' Experience & Pizza Girl BusinessThe Los Angeles native discusses what it was like to join the cast of "The Hills: New Beginnings" and her new line of sauce. SEC Football: CBS Sports Announces 2021 Schedule Including Alabama At Florida On September 18The SEC on CBS kicks off on September 18 with an SEC Championship game rematch between the Crimson Tide and Gators. Mayweather Vs. Paul: Showtime Sports Announces Broadcast Team For June 6 EventThe network announced its plans for the broadcast of the pay-per-view exhibition bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Logan Paul. The 74th Annual 'Tony Awards' And 'The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back!' Come To CBS September 26thCBS and Tony Award Productions will celebrate Broadway’s highly anticipated return to live theatre with a multiplatform event The Tony Awards Present: Broadway's Back! Sunday, September 26th (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) broadcasting on CBS and available to stream live and on demand with Paramount+ or the CBS app.<doc-sep>Several sources close to the family confirmed to KARE 11 that the dead are Irwin Jacobs and his wife, Alexandra. ORONO, Minn. — Two people have been found dead at the home of prominent Twin Cities businessman Irwin L. Jacobs. Several sources close to the family confirmed to KARE 11 that the dead are Irwin Jacobs and his wife, Alexandra. Dennis Mathisen, a longtime business partner of Jacobs, also confirmed the deaths to KARE 11. He said he received a phone call with the news, from a Jacobs family member. The Jacobs family released this statement Wednesday evening: "Our family is shocked and devastated by the death of our parents, Irwin and Alexandra Jacobs. We are heartbroken by this loss, and we ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time." Orono police were called to the Lake Minnetonka-area home at 1700 Shoreline Drive in Orono, at just after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Orono police say they found the bodies of a male and a female at the home. Police say the two people were found in bed, and a gun was also found on the bed. "Taking this seriously and looking at it from every aspect," said Orono Police Chief Correy Farniok. Police say there is no risk to the public. The bodies have not yet been officially identified and investigators are processing the scene. People said the call came from someone who went to the house "routinely" on their rounds. In 1985, Jacobs was billed a "Minneapolis takeover artist" by Fortune. But the Wall Street deal-maker later found a new love in the boat business, starting with Larson Boats in Little Falls and growing that into a world-wide network of companies. His Genmar Holdings became one of the country's biggest boatbuilders, and filed for bankruptcy in 2009. He was 77 when he died. He was well-known in the boating industry. "Certainly some of the big national brands were under his leadership and he was an important person in the whole industry," said Dave Briggs, President of Wayzata Marine.<doc-sep>
Prominent Twin Cities businessman Irwin Jacobs shot and killed his wife, Alexandra, before turning the gun on himself, the Hennepin County medical examiner confirmed Friday. According to the medical examiner’s office, Alexandra Jacobs died of multiple gunshot wounds; the manner of her death was described as a homicide. Irwin Jacobs’ manner of death was suicide; he also died of multiple gunshot wounds. Their bodies were found Wednesday morning in their Lake Minnetonka mansion. They were both 77. “Our family is shocked and devastated by the death of our parents, Irwin and Alexandra Jacobs,” the Jacobs family said in a statement Wednesday night. “We are heartbroken by this loss, and we ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time.” While police officials have not detailed the events around the couple’s death, multiple media outlets previously reported that the couple died in a murder-suicide. One family friend told the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune that Alexandra Jacobs “had been in a wheelchair for the last year or so and had signs of dementia. Irwin was just distraught over her condition.” The couple had been married 57 years and had five children. Their bodies were discovered at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in their Orono home. Orono police said later Wednesday that no suspects were being sought. Jacobs, who had a stake in the Minnesota Vikings in the 1980s before selling his share, gained notoriety nationally in the 1980s as a corporate raider who bought out underperforming companies at a profit. He was known to some as “Irv the Liquidator.” He also ran several Minnesota businesses over the years, such as Grain Belt brewery, boat maker Genmar Holdings, household products maker J.R. Watkins Co. and Jacobs Trading Co., which specializes in liquidating merchandise. Raised on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Alexandra Jacobs was an artist and an advocate for children with disabilities, supporting such groups as the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Wayzata and PACER, which helps children with disabilities and their families. She raised her five children, including a daughter with special needs, and supported her husband and maintained their home. A celebration of the couple’s lives will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Lafayette Club in Minnetonka Beach. The family is requesting memorials in lieu of flowers, which may be sent to the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation, PACER Center, Minnetonka Center for the Arts and Special Olympics.