American Birkebeiner: Jerry skied the event 19 times
Hiking in Mexico with Kristie and Karen
Jake Jacobsen
Jerry Jacobsen
Jerry and Joan Jacobsen
American Birkebeiner: Jerry skied the event 19 times
Hiking in Mexico with Kristie and Karen
Jake Jacobsen
Former computer science/mathematics instructor passed away September 19, 2020
Gerald Jacobsen started teaching mathematics and computer science at Inver Hills Community College in 1971 during the college’s second year in operation. The staff directory at the time included 41 faculty serving just over 1,000 students. Gerald was known as “Jake” by his Inver colleagues; his wife, Joan, called him “Jerry.”
Joan and Jerry on 50th Wedding Anniversary Rhine River cruise
Jerry passed away September 19, 2020, after suffering injuries from a bike accident. Joan and Jerry were married 54 years. They raised two daughters, Kristie and Karen, and were blessed with four grandchildren, Noah, Caleb, Julian and Zoey.
Joan’s life with Jerry was filled with wonderful memories. “One memory that stands out in my mind is our month-long honeymoon through Canada,” Joan said. “We visited all the national parks while camping in a canvas tent that leaked when it rained—and it rained a lot! We figured if we could make it through that, we could handle anything that came our way during our married life.”
Joan admired her husband for how he loved his family and friends and always worked to include everyone on his many adventures. “Whether it was to the BWCA, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, line dancing or traveling, Jerry got some or all of us to participate with him,” she said.
Joan added that her favorite trip with Jerry was when they went on a Rhine River cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. “Not sure what Jerry enjoyed the most,” she recalled, “the beautiful scenery of all the wineries along the river, or all the great wine served on the cruise!”
Support the Jerry Jacobsen Memorial Scholarship
The Jacobsen family is working with the Inver Hills Foundation to create a named scholarship honoring Jerry Jacobsen’s tremendous contributions to Inver Hills Community College and higher education.
The Jerry Jacobsen Memorial Scholarship will continue Jerry’s legacy by supporting students in the Computer Science program and serve as a tribute to his many years of teaching, mentoring and preparing students for success.
Please help us reach the $3,000 threshold needed to create this new scholarship by October 31, 2020.
Donations can also be made by check. Please make out your check to the Inver Hills Foundation and mail to:
Inver Hills Community College Foundation
2500 80th Street East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Please note on your check that your donation should support the Jerry Jacobsen Memorial Scholarship.
Thank you for helping continue Jerry’s legacy at Inver Hills Community College by supporting his scholarship.
Colleagues at Inver Hills
Mary’s retirement party in 2007: (left to right) Marv, Ken Becker, Mary, Jake
Marv Riedesel taught mathematics at Inver Hills Community College for 31 years, retiring in 2003. Marv’s wife, Mary Johnson, also taught math, having arrived at Inver two years after her husband in 1974. Both Marv and Mary were great friends with Jake, who began teaching computer science exclusively early in his faculty career at the college.
“Our two departments always met together and had a very close association—so Jake never really left the Math department,” Marv said. “Ken Becker [first math instructor at Inver], Mary, Jim Hewitt [math faculty], Keven Dockter [math/computer science faculty] and I, as well as others, were colleagues of Jake’s for between 25 and 30 years.”
Letter to Jake’s family
From Marv Riedesel and Mary Johnson shortly after Jake’s accident
Joan, Kristie, and Karen,
Dozens of thoughts have passed through my mind since I heard the devastating news about the accident. Words are certainly inadequate to express the sorrow that I and all of Jake’s friends and family feel. I would like to share with you some of my favorite memories of Jake.
Training for Grandma’s Marathon in the late 70’s—running to Hastings with Jake and Tom Lowry, and then coming home and going for a bike ride.
Getting the phone call each March asking how many onion sets I wanted and then the delivery every April of my 200 sets.
Riding in the TRAM with Jake, Mary, and Keven Dockter. Mary still has nightmares of the tent zippers starting about 5:30 each morning.
The summer I worked with Jake at Allied Van Lines in the early 70’s. Jake was always the master packer as IHCC folks moved—Eddys, Goodnoughs, Rogers, Wrights, myself and probably many others. The truck packing didn’t start until Jake arrived!!!!
Jake was always front and center at the volleyball games associated with Inver Hills faculty retreats—always providing a little needling to Rosie Wrolstad.
The years of 3-on-3 faculty basketball with Gene Eddy, John Kees, Tom Helget, Denny Keihn, Guy Kalland, Keven Dockter, Jim Hewitt, Jon Larsen, Roy Goodnough, myself and others. We all knew that Jake would always pat the basketball twice before he would shoot. We all teased him about that.
— Marv Riedesel and Mary Johnson
Looking at the classroom schedule each quarter at IHCC wondering if your assigned room might be following or leading into his class because his classes always started 5 minutes early and ended 5 minutes late. I must admit that I, also liked to extend my 50 minute class period to 60 minutes. Also wondering if your class at the same time as Jake’s might be across the hall because if so, you needed to be able to talk LOUDER than Jake and the exploding chalk as he wrote on the blackboard.
My daughter, Lisa, saying to her classmates in Jake’s Fortran class in the early 80’s as Jake walked into the classroom—“Fasten your seatbelts!” The race was on. Jake could present more material in one class period than most of us could present in two.
One of my earliest memories of Jake was seeing him “practice” his lectures in the Physics lab before presenting them—true dedication and making sure that he could talk fast enough to get everything covered that he planned to do in that class period.
The years of 3-on-3 faculty basketball with Gene Eddy, John Kees, Tom Helget, Denny Keihn, Guy Kalland, Keven Dockter, Jim Hewitt, Jon Larsen, Roy Goodnough, myself and others. We all knew that Jake would always pat the basketball twice before he would shoot. We all teased him about that.
My daughter, Lisa, saying to her classmates in Jake’s Fortran class in the early 80’s as Jake walked into the classroom—“Fasten your seatbelts!” The race was on. Jake could present more material in one class period than most of us could present in two.
— Marv Riedesel and Mary Johnson
Jake’s legendary lunches in the reception area by our offices. Usually start by 11 and maybe finish by 1. First it was the big black lunch pail and then the paper bag—maybe I have the order wrong, but we all marveled how such a skinny guy could put away the amount of food that he did. We were all envious.
I didn’t cross-country ski often with Jake (because I couldn’t keep up with him), but I do have good memories of skiing at Lebanon Hills and also the track around IHCC. Knowing Jake, you knew that he would usually do two laps while the rest of us would do one.
Jake was always a fixture at the parties after basketball games and football games in the early years of Inver Hills. Wonderful memories as we relived the games and shared stories with and about our families.
Jake was a steady and sincere friend. His faith and his integrity were hallmarks of his personality. We were all fortunate for knowing him.
I share my thoughts and my tears with you.
Marv Riedesel and Mary Johnson Retired Mathematics Faculty Inver Hills Community College
A Tribute to Gerald “Jerry” Bruce Jacobsen
by Dr. Michael Perry, Joan and Jerry’s son-in-law
Jerry and Joan: Proud grandparents
I want to start by recognizing how much Jerry meant to everyone that knew him. His welcoming and comforting presence was unlike any other. Jerry radiated calm. Jerry was selfless. Jerry was confident in his own skin. Jerry welcomed adventure. Jerry enjoyed the outdoors, eating, and not spending money—at least on himself (wardrobe and eating out at the top of the list). Jerry was dedicated above all else to his family.
Some of Jerry’s favorite places were national parks throughout the country, including hiking and backpacking through the mountains. However, no place resonated with Jerry more than the Boundary Waters. Many of us here today followed him down trails as he carried the 90-pound canoe while we followed carrying the paddles.
Joan’s first time spending the night in a tent was with Jerry while on a trip to the BWCA.
In fact, on a month long honeymoon, Joan spent all but one night in a canvas tent with a single night in a reasonably priced motel.
Jerry would sit down for a lunch during garden season and enjoy fresh broccoli, pepper, and at least four tomatoes.
Jerry cooked bacon outside in the backyard to keep Joan’s kitchen clean.
Jerry loved to read books—lots of books—assuming they were purchased for a deal or checked out from the library.
Jerry would make sure to get in his daily exercise, even if a run took place a half hour before his daughter’s wedding.
Jerry proudly wore t-shirts supplied by races – on bikes, on skis, on foot. Jerry wore clothes unlike any other.
The Ride Across Minnesota (TRAM) circa 1986 (left to right) Marv, Mary, Keven, Jake
I worked at Inver from 1983 through 2007 and then at ARCC until this past summer. At Inver, I began teaching math and computer science. As Jake was the entire Computer Science department, I worked closely with him.
I was amazed at how hard he worked! It was not surprising to see him in an empty classroom practicing his lecture for his classes! From him, and others, I learned that one needed to work hard to be a great teacher. I admired how he put his all into everything he did, his teaching, his fun, and his family.
Keven Dockter Retired Mathematics/Computer Science Faculty Inver Hills Community College
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Joan and Jerry on Rhine River cruise
Hiking in Mexico with Kristie and Karen
American Birkebeiner: Jerry skied the event 19 times
Cruise stop on St. Kitts
Hiking in Spain
Learn more about how you can support students and the Inver Hills mission by contacting:
Kimberly Shaff
Interim Executive Director
Inver Hills and DCTC Foundations
651-450-3512
Elsbeth Howe
Inver Hills Development Director
651-450-3407
Chris Hinrichs
Foundation Business & Accounting Coordinator
651-450-3643
Math department social gathering on Marv and Mary’s pontoon July 2019 | Jake’s wearing the captain’s hat
Thanks for the memories of Jerry. Mom and I enjoy reading them. Love, Steve.