Michael David Jarboe

Pillar Location: “B” Block

Story: 

Life Members of the Friends of the Mounted Police Heritage Centre
Michael and Eileen Jarboe
Penfield, Illinois, USA

Michael “Mike” Jarboe was born in July 1944 in Turlock, California to Joseph and Ruth Jarboe, the fourth of 11 children. Eileen Jarboe was born in July 1946 in Davenport, Iowa to Raymond and Christina Kocher, the third of seven children. Both of their families returned to farms in Illinois when they were both about one year old.

Mike is a Vietnam War Veteran and served in the Illinois Army National Guard from 1963-1969. His name is inscribed on the American Legion Post 996 Veteran’s Memorial in Royal, Illinois.

Mike and Eileen married on September 13, 1969 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign, Illinois. They have lived in the same house on their grain farm which is located just south of Penfield, Illinois since they were married. They have three daughters: Amy (Dan) Cain, Vicki (Mark) Dixon, and Jill (Brian) Korblick; and six grandchildren: Megan Cain (Hunter) Harrison, Tyler Cain, Elie Dixon, Lucas Dixon, Broder Korblick, and Gunnar Korblick.

Mike retired in 1991 from grain farming and again in 1997 from the O&M Division of the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois with 35 years of service. Eileen is a retired farm housewife and former hairdresser in Champaign, Illinois. Mike is the Jarboe family genealogist and author of The Illinois Jarboe Family, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

Together, they enjoy auto touring the United States and Canada, especially visiting RCMP historic sites and museums, National Parks, and other historic sites. They have driven to and visited every US state, except Hawaii, and every Canadian province, except Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Newfoundland, and Labrador. Their favorite Mounted Police sites are the RCMP Training Academy and Heritage Centre, Lower Fort Garry NHS, Fort MacLeod NHS and Museum, Fort Walsh NHS, Fort Calgary NHS, Fort Battleford NHS, Batoche NHS, and Fort Benton NHL in Montana.

During Mike’s childhood, he developed an early interest in the RCMP while reading the World Landmark book, Royal Canadian Mounted Police by Richard L. Neuberg from his grade school library and listening to episodes of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon on the radio. His interest mushroomed when Mike, Eileen, and their daughters visited the RCMP Training Academy and Museum in July 1985. Mike has always had an interest in history and found the museum to be very interesting. In the very meager 1985 gift shop, Mike purchased the book, Arms & Accoutrements of the Mounted Police 1873-1973 by Roger F. Phillips and Donald J. Klancher. The museum staff suggested Mike contact RCMP historian, author, and collector, Inspector Don Klancher, to find Mounted Police items for purchase. Since that introduction, Mike and Eileen have become good friends with Don and his wife, Donna. Don, now retired, has also been Mike’s Mounted Police mentor.

Mike now has a modest, diverse collection of NWMP, RNWMP, and RCMP items with an emphasis on firearms.

On February 13, 1996, Mike and Eileen became members of the “Friends of the Mounted Police Museum,” which is now under the umbrella of the Friends of the RCMP Heritage Centre.

Mike and Eileen attended the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Force in Regina which was held on June 25-28, 1998. At the celebration, they attended the very impressive festivities of RCMP Tattoo, Musical Ride, and Sunset Retreat Ceremony. But a true highlight of the celebration for them was when they took part in a program where Musical Ride members and their horses greeted visitors. Constable Stephane Cadieux spoke little English; therefore, he and his horse, Koko, were available to them. Mike and Eileen spoke no French, but after a few photos they had a surprisingly long, friendly conversation. Later after the Musical Ride performance, they found him with the horses in the temporary stable area working with Koko and his tack. They were all surprised to see each other again! Constable Cadieux gave them each a set of two 125th Anniversary Celebration pins that he had found in his tack box. This was a brief, yet personal, Mounted Police encounter that Mike and Eileen will always remember. Mike has the pins prominently displayed in his collection with a photo of himself, Constable Cadieux, and Koko.

They also met with Don Klancher and fellow collectors, Eric Lund and Russell Knott. Don showed them the Cadet Mess, Canteen, and Chapel. He also showed them the Beechcraft D-18 airplane that was displayed on a pedestal by the old RCMP museum that he flew when he was an active Force pilot.

In July 2014, they again visited the RCMP Training Academy to explore the new RCMP Heritage Centre. Most impressive! For security purposes, visitors are no longer allowed to roam the Academy grounds, but Mike and Eileen were given a narrated tour while riding in a small trolley driven by a retired RCMP member. The only stop on the tour was at the Chapel in which everyone disembarked to hear heroic, honorable stories and view commemorative displays of the members. It was an excellent tour with a feeling of “Maintiens le Droit” everywhere!

In February 2015, Mike and Eileen became Life Members of Friends of the RCMP Heritage Centre and will have a brick displayed in the Pillars of the Force walkway.

A special thanks to Friends Secretary of the Board of Directors, Ron Ostrum (retired RCMP) for all of his assistance and patience with Friends matters.

Mike and Eileen feel very privileged to be a part of the world famous and highly respected Royal Canadian Mounted Police by being Life Members of the Friends of the RCMP Heritage Centre.