In Memorium*
February 11, 1938 – December 14, 2010
Barbara (Barb) Jacobson passed away
December 14, 2010 after a battle with cancer. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 11, 1938, the
daughter of Leota (Otter) and James Maitland.
After graduating from High School, she attended Junior College, where she
studied in the Clerical/Secretarial field.
Before she married, Barb was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves,
where her duties included working in bereavement services.
In 1956, Barbara met and married
the love of her life, LeMonte Burton Jacobson of Litchfield, Minnesota. In 1966, the family left Minnesota on a train
bound for sunny Arizona, thus beginning a lifelong adventure that took them all
across the country. Throughout their
travels, Barbara was a devoted wife and a wonderful mother who enjoyed life.
Barbara had a career in
Administration in both the corporate world and in the hospitality field. In the early 1990’s, Barbara and LeMonte
settled in East Mesa/Apache Junction, Arizona, and for a few years they travelled
to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they were the “Chefs Extraordinaire” at the
Spotted Horse Dude Ranch along the banks of the Hoback River.
Barbara was a long-time member of
VFW Post 9399 Ladies’ Auxiliary, and served for five years as the Ladies’
Auxiliary Chaplain. She loved being
supportive of those in ill health, as well as marking transitional celebrations
by officiating at memorial services and weddings. Along with the rest of her family, Barbara
volunteered to cook on Big Band and Polka Nights. No matter the night, if Barbara was in the
Canteen, she was one of the first to greet people and make them feel welcome.
Barbara is preceded in death by her
mother, father, four brothers, one niece and one nephew. She is survived by her husband, LeMonte,
three daughters; Suzanne Jacobson, Sally Marvaino, Jane Rogers (Sherman); two
sons, Charles (Becky) and Matthew (Kim) Jacobson; 15 grandchildren and five
great-grand children; and Two sisters,
Lola McKee and Helen Paajanen, two brothers, Bob and Chuck Peterson and many
nieces, nephews and good friends. A
Memorial Service was held at VFW Post 9399 in Apache Junction on December 19,
2010. Memorial Gifts may be designated
to Hospice of the Valley 1510 E. Flower
Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.
*This obituary was originally published in the Apache Junction Independent in December, 2010.
