Paul Jacobson

With his warm and welcoming demeanor, Paul Jacobson was a true delight to so many around him. He was generous and compassionate towards everyone whether an old friend or someone he just met. A man who believed in hard work, Paul knew how to have a good time as well, often with his wife by his side. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Paul created a deeply embedded footprint that will surely withstand the test of time.

Nestled within the prosperous and vibrant decade of the 1920s, the year 1926 was one that was filled with several noteworthy events. With cars that were becoming more affordable for the average consumer, it was during this year that Route 66 was created, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles. This was also the year that Henry Ford announced the 40 hour work week, setting the precedent for other companies across the nation. It was within this colorful year that there was much to celebrate for one young family since it was on March 16th that they welcomed the birth of their son, Paul Robert. Paul was welcomed into the world by his father, Per Svensson Jacobson who was a Swedish immigrant, and his mother, Ethel Beatrice (Carlson) Jacobson, a local girl of Swedish descent. Raised in the family home at 1662 Maplerow NW, Paul joined his older brother Roger in the Jacobson family. His father was a watchmaker who was trained in Sweden and continued to use his skills after coming to America. Paul’s mother was a homemaker, although she went to work at the Peninsular Club in downtown Grand Rapids after her children were older.

During his formative years, Paul was a bustle of activity. It was his job to milk the family cow, Mathilda. He and his brother didn’t let the cold weather keep them from having a good time as they enjoyed playing hockey on the nearby ponds and cross country sking during the winter months. Paul attended Walker School and Oakleigh Elementary. He went on to become part of the graduating class of Union High School in 1944 and attended Davis Tech the following year. Since he suffered from asthma, Paul was not called to military duty.

Life was forever changed for Paul when he met the young woman with whom he would share more than 61 years. Her name was Ruth Door and they met in 1948 at Siegel’s Jewelers. Paul was working as a watch repairman there while Ruth was a salesperson. After dating for a time, the couple found themselves deeply in love and married on February 19, 1949.

The newlyweds began their lives as husband and wife in an apartment on Eighth Street, but they soon moved to Tamarack NW in the early fifties. From there they moved to a home on Orville SE and later to Griggs SE where they remained for 13 years before finally settling into a home on Brooklyn SE for 35 years. Along the way, Paul and Ruth were blessed with four children: Sally, Kathie, Kenneth, and Richard. In order to support his family, Paul worked in watch repair initially, but later worked in electronic sales for many years. The Jacobsons enjoyed spending time as a family. There were such special memories made each summer when they stayed at various cottages around Michigan. One of their favorite places to go was around the Muskegon area. They shared many good times with Paul's brother Roger and his family on Mona Lake and at Lake Michigan.

Paul was a lifetime member of First Evangelical Covenant Church where he served as a Trustee and for 21 years managed the sound systems. One of his most challenging sound achievements was the system he set up on the church's front lawn for the choir and orchestra performance of "I Love America," which celebrated the country's Bicentennial.

Paul was a music enthusiast who loved listening to classical music and enjoyed many performances of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. He enjoyed reading, taking care of the yard and growing flowers. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife. They often traveled with their friends, the Roses and the Andersons. Many memorable canoe trips were also taken with the “39ers” through the years. Paul loved the Swedish food his mother or wife prepared for holiday meals. Swedish coffee bread was a family staple. He also loved the German cuisine at the Schnitzelbank Restaurant in Grand Rapids, and he never turned down a dessert of any kind, especially if it was chocolate!

There were so many things that made Paul such a unique man who was dearly loved. He treasured his family above all else and was always concerned about their well being first and foremost. Those who knew Paul Jacobson would agree that life was more fun when he was around. A lifelong resident of the Grand Rapids area, he was proud to say that his childhood home is still in the family today. Paul was a man who was all about family and caring for those around him as an outpouring of his kind and compassionate heart. Although he could be a bit of a jokester at times, Paul knew what it meant to work hard as providing for his family was always his highest priority. He was a man of great character who will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by many.

Paul R. Jacobson died on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at the Christian Rest Home. Paul’s family includes his wife, Ruth; children, Sally Rosbury of Sarasota, Florida, Kathie (Mark) Minnick, Kenneth (Gay) Jacobson, Richard (Diana) Jacobson, all of the Grand Rapids area; 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at First Evangelical Covenant Church, 1933 Tremont Blvd. NW with interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to First Evangelical Covenant Church, 1933 Tremont Blvd. NW, Christian Rest Home, 1000 Edison NW, 49504, or Spectrum Hospice, 4500 Breton SE, 49508.