JACOBSEN, John 1889-1923

JACOBSEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/3/2015 at 16:41:26

A military funeral was held at Reinbeck Wednesday for John Jacobsen, of Reinbeck, a well known young soldier of that place who died the first of the week at Grinnell. The young man recently submitted to a very serious operation which left him in a very bad condition and for months relatives and close friends knew that the end was not far distant. Johnny Jacobsen was an exceptionally bright young man and he had a bright future before him until striken with an incurable ailment just in the prime of young manhood. He leaves a mother and two brothers and a host of friends to mourn his passing.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 May 1923, pg 5

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John N. Jacobsen

One of Reinbeck's soldier boys fought his last and greatest battle and lost when John N. Jacobsen passed away quietly at the home of his mother, Reinbeck, Monday afternoon. Although he had been ill for many months and medical skill could do nothing to help him, he faced the end cheerfully and courageously, never losing confidence in his ability to beat the enemy that beset him. And still holding to that sublime faith he fell asleep on the last day and did not waken. He left to mourn his death his mother, Mrs. Pella Jacobsen, an aunt, Mrs. Neta Junger and two brothers, Paul and Iwar, all of Reinbeck.

Last October he was forced to quit his work at Grinnell and come home. An operation at Iowa City proved that he had a malignant internal cancer and no hope of recovery was held. All that loving care could do in the following months proved indeed fruitless.

John Nicholas Jacobsen was born March 8, 1890, the youngest of Nicholas and Pella Jacobsen. A few years after his birth his father passed away. hHe was reared in Reinbeck, graduating from the local high school. After a course in a business college he went to Waterloo where he engaged in the insurance business.

In May, 1916, he went to the Mexican border with the Iowa National Guard, serving there with honor for a year. In June, 1917, he enlisted in the army and the following year was sent to France with a rank of second lieutenant. Here he served so well as to deserve a promotion to first lieutenant, with which rank he was mustered out of the service. Later he was given the same rank in the R.O.C.

Returning home, he went into the insurance business with his brother, Paul. While in Reinbeck at this time, he organized the Action Post of the American Legion and was its first post commander. Later going to Waterloo, he was adjutant of the Becker-Chapman Post of that city. From that position he went into the Greater Waterloo Association as an assistant secretary. Here an opportunity for advancement was given him which he grasped and went to Grinnell as secretary of the commercial club of that city, a position he held until ill health forced him to resign.

The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, under the auspices of the local post of the American Legion, the post turning out in full force to honor their organizer and first commander. The services were conducted in the Congregational church, of which he was a member, by Rev. A. W. Sinden, pastor of the church and Rev. Cross, of Grinnell, an overseas veteran and friend of his Grinnell days.

Besides Rev. Cross, a number of other prominent men from Grinnell attended the funeral, including J. L. McIlrath, the mayor of the city, two ex-presidents of the Commercial Club, C. S. George and W. J. Nelson, and representatives of the Legion at that place. A dozen members of the Becker-Chapman Post of Waterloo also attended the funeral and assisted the local post in giving military honors to their former adjutant.

Every effort was made by Action Post to duly honor their organizer and first commander. The pall bearers were especially chosen from among the charter members of the post, from the men who entered the Legion at the same time. Post Commander Elliott Koht conducted the Legion services at the grave and the company left the cemetery with the impressive notes of Taps echoing in their ears.

The pall bearers were: Edwin Robinson, James O'Brien, Herbert Edler, John Cumming, Emil Nissen and John Grimni.

Color Guard: Harley Ingols, Warren Mitchell and Carroll Ford.

Firing Squad: Brandt, Eberhardt, Verley, Saltau, Mulder, Salisbury, Collins and Fahily. Hubbard, officer in charge.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 May 1923, pg 6