C.W. "Jake" Jacobson, 87, of Grafton, ND passed away at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton on Thursday, June 2, 2011. Cleland was born May 29, 1924, Leeds, North Dakota, to Marvin and Adeline (Olson) Jacobson. He grew up in Minnewaukan, ND and graduated from Minnewaukan High School in 1942. Jake enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater until 1946. Jake was involved in campaigns in Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Southern Philipines and Luzon and was awarded the Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Bronze Arrowhead and a Good Conduct Medal. Following his discharge from the service, Jake attended Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND and then began his career with the Gambles store, working in Harvey, ND, New Rockford, ND and Fairmont, MN. Jake and his wife, Mernice, were married in 1954 and moved to Grafton in 1956, when Jake was named Assistant Manager at the Gambles store. The couple purchased the Grafton Gambles in 1969 and operated it independently until 1984. For the next five years, the couple operated Jacobson's Furniture on Highway 81 South in Grafton. Following his "retirement" Jake served as a Director/Manager of Heritage Village in Grafton from 1989 until 2005. Jake was a member of Grafton Lutheran Church, a church council member for 10 years and a past council president. He served 10 years on the Grafton City Council, and also served as president. He was a member of Post 41 of the American Legion, the V.F.W. Club, the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, the Grafton Kiwanis Club and the Grafton Lions Club. Jake's favorite pastime was spending time with his family; he also enjoyed antiques and woodworking. Jake is survived by his wife, Mernice, his children: Wayne (Christine) Jacobson, and Julie (Daryl) Campbell, all of Grafton, ND; Steven (Tracy) Jacobson of Detroit Lakes, MN; five grandchildren: Brenda (Tim) Kaczorowski of Brillion, WI; Dana (Kjeld) Jonsson of Savage, MT, Megan (Jeremy) Houser of Grand Forks, ND, Brock Jacobson and his fiancé Kelsey Mandan of Fargo, ND and Stephanie Jacobson of Fargo, ND; four great-grandchildren: Olivia and Logan Kaczorowski, Jax Houser, and Karsten Jonsson. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Merton Jacobson. Funeral services will be Monday, June 6, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. at Grafton Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Sunday from 5-7 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Monday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Grafton Lutheran Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by the Grafton American Legion Post #41 and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.
Tollefson Funeral Home
Grafton Lutheran Church
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors