Arthur Johannes Jacobsen
Arthur Johannes Jacobsen
Arthur Johannes Jacobsen, 94, of Bothell, WA, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2008 after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
He was born on September 1, 1914 in East Chain, Minnesota, the third of four children, to Martin K. and Christine Jacobsen who were poor farmers and newly arrived from Denmark. In a unique twist of fate, he was born on the same day as his father and on the same day as his father’s father.
In the early 1920s, when he was about 7 years old, the family moved back to Denmark because Christine was homesick. Six years later, they returned to the U.S. and, after a banker absconded with their savings, they were forced to eke out a living on a farm. Art quit school to work. In 1933, after his favorite sister, Laura, died of TB, he followed his older brother, Chris, to Seattle where there was a promise of a good job. He was nineteen then. In Seattle he lived and worked on the dairy farm which belonged to Harold Virkelyst in what is now the Crown Hill area just south of Carkeek Park. He met and married Betty Jane Moore in Seattle on September 2, 1940. They had four children together:
Art was a very hard worker with an innate sense of business. He provided a good life for his family. The man with only an 8th grade education owned the largest milk delivery route in Seattle. When he began his business, he worked for 12 years without taking a single day off. He was a milk deliveryman for 40 years.
Arthur Johannes Jacobsen
Art was a good father to his children and a faithful and loving husband to Betty for more than 68 years. His devotion to Betty was legendary and their marriage an inspiration to all. The tragic loss of their first-born child, Sandy, early in their marriage, only served to strengthen their bond.
Art will be remembered most for his love of hunting, camping, and fishing which he passed on to his sons. He taught his sons conservation, respect for living things, and a love of the outdoors decades before the word “ecology” ever entered the American vocabulary.
Arthur is survived by his wife, Betty, his two sons, Gary (Diane) of Lake Havasu City AZ, and Chris (Heidi) of Seattle, and by his two grandchildren Michael Neal Jacobsen of Lacey and Corey Todd Jacobsen (Justine) of Cheyenne, WY, two great-grandsons, Deryk and Ryan Jacobsen, loving nieces, Marjolaine Schmitt of Sioux Falls SD, Judi Weiser of Seattle, Lollie Jacobsen of Mendocino CA., nephew Don Jacobsen of Seattle, and many grand nieces and grand nephews.
Art was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Chris, his sisters Laura and Catherine, his daughter Sandy, and his son Michael.
A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 15 in the upstairs Ballroom of the South County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Avenue, Edmonds, Washington. Everyone who knew him and loved him is invited. Please come and bring your favorite story for this celebration of Art’s life. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice.
8 Responses to “Arthur Johannes Jacobsen”
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I send my deepest sympathy to the entire Jacobsen Family. Art was a great milkman, but more importanly, a really great man.
Art was our home delivery milkman when I was 4-14 years old. He really made an impression on me as our milkman; I started to work at Vitamilk Dairy as a home delivery milkman on 08/04/1949 and retired as the distribution manager 08/01/1991
a 42 year employment, thanks to Art’s milkman image, that I have carried thru the present time.
Art will be truely missed by all of his friends and all of his family.
A friend and competitor George Parmenter
My deepest sympathy to the Jacobsen family. Art was a wonderful friend and neighbor.
My condolences to the entire Jacobsen family. I have been the family insurance man for well over 20 years. Art always had a kind word and a story every time we spoke. He will be sorely missed.
Paul Gray
Art was a wonderful and giving man that shared his love of the outdoors with me in many trips to the river with him and his wonderful family. I will always remember him and his great sense of humor with the fondest memories of a great man.
Terry Ovstedal
Art was a kind and gentle friend and neighbor. We enjoyed his company and friendship over the years and will miss him a lot. Our sympathy goes out to his family. May he rest in the peace he so richly deserves.
John & Carolyn Navroth
To the Jacobsen family, I have known Art and family for over 60 years, he was our family milkman for 40 years. I have camped fished and hunted with the family, and will miss Art. He was generous and treated me as the 4th son. I remember when he did CPR on my dad, and when he was well enough, they went out for coffee. I have lots of stories to tell of my memories, and all my memories are good. He will be missed. He was like a grandfather to my sons Bryan and Dan who didn’t have a living grandfather, and invited us to the river many times enjoying the evening camp fire. Thanks for the memories. Ron, Racelie, Bryan and Dan Maxum
I want to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts. Art would have been surprised by all the wonderful comments! Let us all remember Art and his wonderful spirit, he will be missed.
Thanks Dad,
Your son, Chris
My Dad was had a loving, giving spirit which was reflected in his friends. In spite of his poor upbringing and lack of education he was a man of great character, and he taught me much. He had a long and rewarding life and was very healthy up until the very end. I will always strive to remember the lessons he taught me and to live up to his standards and traditions. He was a very good man. Thanks, Dad.
Your son, Gary