Jacob A. "Jay" Hopp, 84, of Washington, Il died at 4:00 am Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at Metamora Snyder Village.

He was born on April 18, 1940 in Rock Rapids, Iowa to the late Pete and Ann Hopp. He moved to Washington, IL at 14 and later married Barbara A. (Zimmerman) Hopp on November 19, 1960.

Surviving are 2 daughters; Robin (Mario) Porporino of Carefree, Az and Angela Hopp of Bloomington, IL., 1 son, Kenneth (Mindy) Hopp of Washington, IL, 2 granddaughters, Shelby McKavitt and Maci Hopp, 2 grandsons, Daniel Roe and Brock Hopp, 2 great- grandsons, Ashton Roe and Remington Morris, and 3 sisters, Katie Van Olst and Winnie Sexton of California and Toni Van Wyhe of Minnesota.

Jay was a 1958 graduate of Washington Community High School. He was on the Washington Panthers football team all four years and remained an avid Panther fan throughout the rest of his life, playing a lead role in helping to build a multipurpose building at the High School's Babcook Field called the Panther Plex. Jay also loved the Chicago Bears and was rarely seen without his favorite Bears football hat.

He enjoyed boating, crossing Lake Michigan 6 times and spending weekends on the water at Harbor Point Marina. He also enjoyed traveling, crossing the United States many times by car. One of his most memorable trips was an African Safari. Jay built 7 homes for his family in the Washington area, as well as remodeling several others. He single handedly built his first home when he was just 21 years old. In addition to building homes for his family, Jay worked for the Otto Baum Construction Co. for 32 years. He then worked an additional 12 years for the Illinois Bricklayers Benefit and Pension Fund.

Jay loved his family, his community, and football.

His family will receive friends from 11:00am-2:00pm Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment will follow at Glendale Cemetery in Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Washington Panthers 12th Man organization.