Theodore Christian Jacobsen

Theodore (Ted) Christian Jacobsen 1908 ~ 2009 Theodore Christian Jacobsen passed away peacefully at home with his loving wife Florence at his bedside on May 28, 2009.Dad was born October 20, 1908 in San Francisco, California to Soren N. and Anna Jensen Jacobsen. He was the oldest of four children, Margaret J. Bennion (deceased), Leo M. Jacobsen (deceased) and is survived by his sister Ruth J. Kirby. The family lived briefly in San Francisco while his father worked as a construction supervisor rebuilding many projects in the city after the 1906 earthquake. Dad grew up in Salt Lake, attended LDS High School and the University of Utah. He graduated from Utah State Agricultural College with a degree in Civil Engineering. Dad earned two letters at the "U" for Basketball. While at LDS High School his basketball team took the State High School Championship in 1926. The team went on to the National High School Finals where they were in the tournament until they lost on the last night by one point. The LDS High basketball team's camaraderie was a source of pride for all members their entire lives. After serving an LDS mission to Denmark, Dad returned home, completed his schooling and married Florence Smith in 1935. Mom and Dad had three sons, Stephen (Patricia), Alan and Heber (Christine). Alan preceded Dad in death in 2004. Dad's life was shaped by his experiences with his father and brother starting and managing Jacobsen Construction Company during the beginning of the Great Depression. Dad was part of Jacobsen Construction until his retirement in 1978. He was proud of what he and Leo had built the Company into when he retired. Some of the projects Jacobsen Construction performed during Dad's involvement are: Bonneville Ward & Stake Center, the expansion of the Hotel Utah, the Los Angeles Temple, the Washington D.C. Temple, and the Oakland Temple to name just a few. Dad was an active member of the LDS Church serving in the Bonneville Ward Bishopric for seven years and as Bishop for seven, as President of the Eastern States Mission for four years, as a Regional Representative, as a member of the Church Missionary Committee, as a Director of Temple Square, as a Sealer in the Salt Lake Temple and lastly as a faithful Home Teacher. Dad served a two year term in the Utah Legislature. He served on the Board of Directors for the following: Utah Power and Light Company (31 years), Utah Portland Cement Company and the San Francisco Branch of the Federal Reserve. He also served as the President of the Utah Associated General Contractors and as President of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce for two terms. Dad belonged to the Alta Club, the Salt Lake Country Club, the Rotary Club of Salt Lake and Bonneville Knife and Fork Club where he was a past president. Dad loved to fish and enjoyed many hours on Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone. He loved seeing his grandchildren and great-grand children catch browns, cut-throats and rainbows. He was an avid golfer and played longer than any of his golfing buddies, He is survived only by Bill Clawson. Dad and Mom established the Jacobsen Scholarship Fund in 2004. The fund has helped hundreds of LDS students in the United States continue and complete their university degrees. Dad's posterity includes nine grand children and 18 great-grand-children. The family is particularly grateful for the friendship and care given by Jennifer Strassburg, Christina Rosa, Adriana Chagas and Cida Pierce as they spent countless hours with Mom and Dad during the last few years of Dad's life. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at the Ensign 2nd Ward, 135 North A Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends may visit the family from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City. Family members may gather at 10:00 a.m. prior to the Service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in the name of Theodore C. Jacobsen be made to the Jacobsen Scholarship Fund in c/o LDS Philanthropies in the following manner: call 1-800-525-8074 with a credit card, or donate on-line at: www.ldsphilanthropies.org, or mail in a donation to: LDS Philanthropies, 1450 North University Ave., Provo, UT 84604. Donations to scholarship fund cannot be made on tithing slips.