Jack Jacobson

Jack Jacobson was called to the house of our Lord on April 28, 2018 after an extended illness. He is survived by Martha (Marty), his wife of 61 years, daughter Belinda, son-in-law Joe, near Fairfax, Virginia, and his son, Jeffrey, near Park City, Utah. His younger brother Herman and wife, Claudia, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He also leaves behind four grandchildren, Karl, Eric, Kristen, and Jansen, several nieces and nephews, and relatives in Norway.

Born in the Bronx, New York in June 19, 1932, his parents returned to a small southern village near Kristiansand, Norway at 6 months of age. He completed his high school education in Norway and survived bombings during the Nazi Occupation of Norway. He and his parents, and sibling returned to the US soon after his high school graduation. Upon learning English and the trade skill of flooring, Jack was eligible to join the US Navy where he served his commission on the USS Yellowstone in the Mediterranean Sea from 1952-1956. He received the Navy Occupation Service Medal (European Clasp) and the National Defense Service Medal for honorable duty. He obtained an engineering degree and served the US Department of Defense as an Electronic Research and Development Specialist for 25 years helping to develop and create the GPS satellite systems for the NASA space program and the Tomahawk cruise missile, a technology that is still in use today. He finished his career at DOD helping to create a fiber optics communication system.

Jack was a multi-talented man: a husband, father, grandfather, angler, sailor, engineer, inventor, architect, American, Norwegian, Virginian, and a Floridian. He approached life with great energy and always did things “his way.” Jack would say hello to anyone and find a new friend almost every day ~ The Jack Factor Charm! He greeted you with a big smile and thrived to learn. He was extremely creative and placed his energy into the meticulous process of designing residential homes that were constructed by his son, Jeffrey. He also mapped out extended nautical adventures on the Chesapeake Bay and carefully planned summer RV trips out West where he could fish with his handcrafted flies.

He was a member of the social dance club, the photography club, the computer club, and the golf club at Stonecrest, He loved the natural beauty of Virginia especially in the fall but always preferred those perfect days in Florida from November through May. In recent years, he became interested in the artistic aspects of photography and was proud to display his class projects. He was always willing to try a new dance step but loved a graceful waltz the most.

Most of all, if he were here, I’m sure he would want you to remind everyone that “it doesn’t get better than this; I’ve had a good life”!

A burial service will begin at 10am at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida on June 8, 2018. There will be a Celebration of Life to honor Jack Jacobson at 12pm at The Congregational Church located 15421 S US Hwy 301 (1 mile north of CR 42) Summerfield, FL 34491 followed by a reception in the fellowship hall of the church. Please RSVP to #352-347-4084 by June 6th. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society in honor of Jack Jacobson are welcomed.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

traditional Gaelic blessing