Obituary: Jacobson, Thomas Paul
Age 67
He started his grocery and merchandising career working alongside his dad at the age of sixteen and learned his culinary skills from his mom.
He graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High in 1963 and Everett High School, Class of 1966, for which he attended the reunions every year.
His life was always an adventure.
He retired from work after many years of trips across the country and hours on the road across the Northwest.
Some of his great joys were obtaining his pilot’s license, playing volleyball, working for the forestry service, and many family camping and fishing trips.
He spent every spring and fall turkey hunting and took a yearly trip to Othello for pheasant hunting and apple picking.
The neighborhood will miss his apple deliveries.
Unknown to many, Tom was a talented writer and published poet.
He often wrote for his wife throughout the years and his siblings fondly remember the poem he wrote for his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary.
Tom will be remembered for his innate connection with animals and children.
He was able to calm crying babies, was a beloved “grandpa” to many neighborhood kids, and owned many cats and dogs throughout his lifetime.
Tom was especially sensitive to children with disabilities and was a strong advocate for the rights of those with Down syndrome.
He was a cancer survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a disease that took the life of his elder sister, Clara (Jacobson) Gress.
His father and mother also precede him in death.
Survivors include wife of thirty years, Patricia (Garcia) Jacobson of Spokane, WA, mother of children Whitney Jacobson (Portland, OR) and Conner Jacobson (Spokane, WA); former spouse Leeann (DeWees) Jacobson (Everett, WA), mother of children Cara Jacobson (Ontario, CA) and Rebecca (Jeff) Strike (Everett, WA); grandson Brent Strike; siblings Loretta (Jerry) Hoeppner, Joan (Lee) Ploeg, John Jacobson, and Richard “Dick” (Carol) Jacobson; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In keeping with Tom’s interest of participating in numerous research studies, he requested that his body be donated to science.
In lieu of a funeral, the family will be celebrating Tom’s life at the next Jacobson’s Family Reunion.
The date and place will be announced through social media and directly to those who inquire at the email address below.
The family would appreciate any of your stories, favorites memories, and pictures of Tom’s life be sent to tjacobmemorial@gmail.com or P.O.
Box 31201, Spokane, WA 99223.