Robert "Bob" Leroy Jacobsen

Robert “Bob” Leroy Jacobsen, 85, of Homer, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2022 in Holstein, Iowa.  Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 7, 2022 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Homer, Nebraska.  Visitation will be Friday, May 6, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City.  Burial will be at Omaha Valley Cemetery in Homer.  

Robert was born the son of Henry and Grace (Miller) Jacobsen on June 20, 1936 on the Jacobsen farm south of Homer. He was baptized and later confirmed at St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Homer. He attended The Combs School through 8th grade and graduated from Homer high school in 1955. Bob was an outstanding athlete and excelled at football, basketball and track at Homer high. After graduation, Bob continued working on the family farm.

On June 21, 1957 he married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Young. They moved a house onto the farm later that year and spent the next 64 years there together. Bob farmed the Jacobsen farm almost his entire life, retiring at the age of 83. Bob, a third generation farmer, accepted the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award in 2018 on behalf of the Jacobsen Family Farm for having continuous ownership in the same family for 100 years. He always worked off the farm as well. First for Harry and Johnny’s service station in Homer then for 43 years with the Dakota County Road department until his retirement in 2012. He began playing for the Homer Hawks baseball team after graduating high school. Bob played for 22 summers before “retiring” in 1978. Bob served in the US Army 1960-61 at the Panama Canal. He also played on an all-star baseball team for the Army while there. A daughter, Jill Renee, was born in 1973. She was his shadow around the farm, helping him in the shop and riding in the tractor.

Bob was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Homer and American Buckland Legion Post 97. He was on the Homer Knights football “chain gang” for many years into his eighties.

Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed playing cards, golfing, fishing, and camping. His grandchildren, Sam and Hannah, were a delight to him. Never did you see those blue eyes sparkle more than when he was with them. They were blessed to go on tractor rides, camping and fishing trips or to just sit on grandpa’s lap to take a nap or read a book. As they grew, he enjoyed cheering them on at their sporting events. Bob loved getting together with his extended family as well. From his youth, the Jacobsen family always gathered for Christmas and cousin picnics in the summer.

Bob is survived by his wife Marilyn Jacobsen of Homer; daughter, Jill (Rob) Colerick of Alta; grandchildren, Sam and Hannah Colerick of Alta; sister, Lillian Whitla of Lincoln; Sisters-in-law, Judy Jacobsen of Omaha and Bea Young of Jonesboro, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Gerald Roschewski of Fremont; and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack, Larry, and Gerald Jacobsen; parents-in-law, Lyle and Eleanor Young; brothers-in-law, Fay Whitla, and Darrell and Tom Young; and sisters-in-law, Donna Young and Linda Roschewski.