Sam J. Jacobsen

MIDDLETON - Sam J. Jacobsen, 84, passed away at Meriter Hospital on Monday, January 18, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Racine the son of Danish immigrants, Chris and Christine (nee: Dortzbach) Jacobsen. He grew up on a produce farm. An entrepeneur from a young age, he started his own produce business as a teenager. He attended University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in accounting. After school, he worked at J.I. Case for one year. Wanting to "control his own destiny," he opened the Tri-Dairy Store on University Avenue in Shorewood in 1948. In 1954, he married Mary Lehmann and raised two boys on the West side of Madison. Together, they built the PDQ Food Store chain, which grew to more than 200 convenience stores throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Nevada, and Florida. They had a long and loving marriage until her death in 1990. He was a pioneer of the convenience store industry and a charter member of NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores), serving as President in 1972. He owned Leer Manufacturing in New Lisbon, a world-wide manufacturer of the familiar ice merchandisers and currently owned Nedland Industries Incorporated in Ridgeland, manufacturers of equipment for the waste management and recycling industry. He was initiated into the Masonic Lodge No. 5 in Madison in 1968. In 1973, he became a charter member of TEC IV, which is the oldest TEC group in Wisconsin. He served on many Boards including WPS, First Business Bank, and most recently, the Wisconsin Foundation. In 1992, he married Nancy Caviale and they enjoyed 18-1/2 wonderful years together in Middleton and in their home in Carefree, Ariz. In 1995, he founded Bishops Bay Country Club, the culmination of a labor of love over a decade around which the Bishops Bay community grew. He had the mind of an inventor and currently was working on some exciting ideas. He loved life, his family, his friends, his work, his country. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his sons, Chris of Colorado and Jeff of Nevada; daughter-in- law, Kaara Wicklund of Washington; step-daugh- ters, Olivia (Jay) Loop of Wisconsin, Elizabeth (Tim) Peterson of Wisconsin, Kristen Murray of Washington, and Marianne Thornton of Wisconsin; sisters, Marion (George) Savich of California and Martha (Arthur) Bauer of Missouri; niece, Jean (Gary) Dodds of California; nephew, David Savich of California; and grandchildren, Keith Jacobsen, Kali Jacobsen, Jenny Peterson, Glen Peterson, Olivia Murray, Quinn Murray, Sophie Murray, and Mike Caviale. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Peter and Jim; and granddaughter, Elena Thornton. A Celebration of Life will be held this summer. The date will be announced in this paper two weeks prior to the event. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to HospiceCare Incorporated, 5395 East Cheryl Parkway, Madison, Wis. 53711. His family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone at Meriter Hospital for their loving care.