Cecil H. Jacobson

Cecil Jacobson, 93, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2021.

Cecil Jacobson elected to wait until Margaret would join him in death for burial together. Memorial services for the two of them will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 6, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, NE with Deacon Claire Meyer officiating. Inurnment will follow at Hope Cemetery, Newman Grove, NE. Upon returning from the cemetery, a luncheon will be held at church for family and friends to gather.

Cecil H. Jacobson, born to Martin and Martha (Johnson) Jacobson in Newman Grove, NE was raised on a farm and went through the Great Depression and dust bowl years of hard times. It shaped the man Cecil was to be by making him aware of how precious family and friends are and how faith and hope got them through the losses and rebuilding of those years.

He graduated from Albion, NE High School, Wayne State Teachers College with a degree in Industrial Arts and achieved a master's degree from the University of Northern CO, Greely, CO. Dad Taught for a few years in Elgin, NE and then moved to teach in Chadron, NE before settling down in North Platte, NE where he taught Industrial Arts, first at Adams Jr. High and then moved to Madison Jr. High completing 39 years of teaching. He also enjoyed coaching teams of basketball, football, and track events and was a referee for many years in those sporting events.

He was married to the love of his life, Margaret Louise (Larson) Jacobson for 72 years. They had four children, losing one daughter, Jodi Jean Jacobson (1954) and one son, Henri Jacobson (1958) and raising daughters, Sonja Ann (Jacobson) Hayen and Sigurid Gail (Jacobson) (Peterson) Hansen.

Cecil was a pivotal influence in the lives of his three grandchildren, Amy (Peterson) Duey, Lynsey (Hayen) Orr, and Matthew Hayen who experienced so many adventures with their kind and patient grandfather, teaching them to fish and use tools and attending their many school events and sporting events over the years.  His six great-grandchildren were blessed to have him in their lives sharing his love, wisdom and the Faith and belief in God with them. The families shared such fun times at the Jacobson's cabin at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala learning to fish and clean those fish, water skiing, swimming and golfing in the sandhills of NE.

Cecil was a man of many talents and hobbies. I cannot remember Dad, coming home and sitting down much, he always had an iron in the fire and he let us know that being part of a family meant participating in the daily chores of living. He loved and enjoyed so many things, with the church being number one and as a founding member of Messiah Lutheran Church in North Platte, NE he volunteered hours of his time building, fixing, repairing, cleaning, and doing yard maintenance and shoveling and ice removal for services or other church events. He was an active Sunday School Teacher and member of so many church committees. He also belonged to many civic groups within the community and was active in the Teachers Association. When time permitted, he was a master wood carver, an avid hunter and loved fishing so we had plenty of quail, pheasants, ducks, geese, and venison and of course lots of great freshwater fish to dine on, not to mention the salmon caught in Canada. Cecil built 48 homes in the North Platte, NE area and remodeled many local homes in his summer's off from school teaching. A man of great faith, he was loved and respected by his family, friends, members of the community, his former students and fellow church members. Cecil could be counted on to share his wonderful sense of humor and great smile. He was patient and kind but could be firm and tough as a teacher, parent, or friend and was not afraid to be honest when it was needed. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him or called him a friend.

Cecil and Margaret Jacobson lived 57 years in the same home in North Platte, NE which also underwent remodeling countless times before it was the home of their dreams. In 2012, they sold the North Platte home and moved to Centennial, CO where they lived out their elder years under the watchful and loving eyes of daughter, Sonja (Jacobson) Hayen and enjoyed the great-grandchildren's many school and sporting events.

He is survived by his wife: Margaret Louise (Larson) Jacobson; daughters: Sonja (Jacobson) Hayen; Sigurid (Jacobson) (Peterson) Hansen and Sig's significant other: Grady Love III; granddaughters: Amy (Peterson) Duey (Dan); Lynsey (Hayen) Orr;  and grandson: Matthew Hayen (Lee Ann); great-grandson: Henry "Hank" Orr; great-grandaughters: twins, Haley and Harley Orr; Hope Orr; Maryn Hayen; and Morgyn Hayen; and many nieces and nephews.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents: Martin Severin Jacobson and Martha Elizabeth (Johnson) Jacobson; brothers: Deed Virgil Jacobson; Jerome Sheldon Jacobson (Naomi); Gale Milan Jacobson (Jeannie); Mark Kermit Jacobson; and one sister: Leona Doris (Jacobson) Keeshan (William).