Don "Jake" Jacobsen

Donald “Jake” Jacobsen of Houston, Texas passed away at the age of 57, the 2nd of November 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer. He leaves behind his wife of 32 years, Joan; mother, Helen Jacobsen; sister, Lynn Smith and husband, Ken; brother, Kenneth Jacobsen and wife, Dorothy; and brother, Paul Jacobsen and wife Joanne. He also leaves nieces, Lauren and Valerie; and nephews, Eric and Kyle. He is preceded in death by his father Edward Jacobsen.

Donald, or Jake as he was known to many of his friends had a long and successful career in the oil and gas industry, most recently serving as Vice President Wells Arctic and Government Regulation at Shell. Don’s career spanned almost 35 years where he has made significant contributions by serving in leadership positions in several companies across the industry.

Don received his Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering in 1981 from Virginia Tech after previously attending the United States Coast Guard Academy. Don started his career at Shell that same year. In 2008, he moved to Hess, and then joined Noble Corporation from 2009 to 2012 before returning to Shell in 2012.

Don was an active member in the community where he held numerous board positions for organizations that include Enventure Global Technology, and Offshore Energy Center/Ocean Star Museum in Galveston. He was also a member of the API Upstream Committee and served on the Offshore Energy Safety Advisory Committee for US Secretary of Interior to advise the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Don enjoyed life to the fullest; bicycling, running, playing golf, and fishing. Fishing was a big part of Don’s life since he was kid working at his parent’s marina in Sag Harbor, New York. He especially loved to fly fish. Every July Don would fly fish in Yellowstone National Park with a group of friends in an event called the Yellowstone Safari. Don also helped organize the Offshore Energy Center’s annual fishing tournament. In August, during Don’s last visit to Alaska, he traveled to Ketchikan for offshore fishing, once again filling up a freezer with fish. There was not a sea that Don couldn’t navigate, crossing the Atlantic twice on the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, continuing to stand watch when those around him were down with sea-sickness. His years of travel left him with a keen appreciation of others as well as an insatiable curiosity to explore and assist when the opportunity presented itself.

Don was highly sought out and respected among his peers across the industry and had an energizing presence to all who knew him. He was an inspirational and approachable leader, an engaging colleague, a caring brother, and most of all a loving and devoted son and husband. He will be missed.

A memorial service will be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 18th of November, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis Sons. Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Don’s memory may be directed to

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Immunology or Gene Therapy Cancer Research,

P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486;

or online at www.mdanderson.org/gifts,

click the “Give in Memory of… " tab and enter Donald Jacobsen.

Then under billing information select the “I would like to choose where my donation goes”

and then select “FDF (Fund Designated by Family).”

For information on memorial funds, please call 713-792-3450 or 1-800-525-5841.

Please include the name of the person you wish to honor with your memorial gift.