James “Jimmy” P. Jacobsen, III

James “Jimmy” P. Jacobsen, III, 79 of St. Paul, died unexpectedly on Sunday, September 1, 2024 in Hastings.

Private family services were held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul. A private Interment was held at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Dannebrog. Pastor George Mathews officiated.

Val Killinger was the pianist. Derrick Anderson was the soloist.

Musical selections included “Boring Cry,” “Earth and All Stars,” and “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Pallbearers included Marvin Peterson, Marcus Peterson, Matthew Peterson, Paul Schwartz, IV, James Schwartz, and Jaden Byabato.

Madison Schwartz was an honorary bearer.

Jacobsen- Greenway- Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting Ruthie and her family with the services.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Jimmy was born to James P. Jacobsen, II and Wauneta (Metro) Jacobsen in St. Paul on August 18, 1945. He grew up and received his education through eighth grade in Dannebrog. In 1959, his family moved to St. Paul when his father purchased the McIntyre Funeral Home, which later became the Jacobsen Funeral Home, which had branches in Dannebrog and Wolbach.

Jimmy graduated from St. Paul High School in 1963 and then attended Dana College, graduating in 1967. He went on to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Mortuary Science.

On January 28, 1968, he married Ruthann Knoell in Fremont. The couple briefly made their home in Milwaukee, before returning in September of 1968 to St. Paul.

Jimmy went into business with his father as a funeral director for the Jacobsen Funeral Home. After his father’s retirement, he continued operating the funeral home. He was a licensed director for almost forty years before he retired.

He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Danish Brotherhood, and was a member and past Master of the former St. Paul’s Masonic Lodge.

In retirement Jimmy enjoyed traveling and attending his grandchildren’s activities as they grew up. His grandchildren meant the world to him. He was proud to be a new great-grandfather to baby Ocean. He also enjoyed yardwork, duck and goose hunting, fishing, reading, and helping the “girls” at the hospital thrift store.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Ruthie of St. Paul; daughters, Amanda Peterson of Brooks, Alberta, Canada, Melissa and husband, Paul Schwartz of Alexandria, Minnesota, and Jenna Byabato of Lincoln; grandsons, Marvin Peterson, Marcus and wife, Kaitlyn Peterson, Mathew Peterson and finance, Kalie, all of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Paul Schwartz, IV and Olivia of Grand Forks, North Dakota, James Schwartz of Alexandria, Minnesota, and Jayden Byabato and Amiya of Omaha; granddaughter, Madison Schwartz of Alexandria, Minnesota; great-granddaughter, Ocean Byabato; sister and brother-inlaw, Judy and Gaylord Mickelsen of Mesquite, Nevada; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mark and Linda Knoell of Lincoln and LaMond and Rosella Knoell of Fremont; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Wauneta Jacobsen.

The Phonograph-Herald | September 11, 2024