Philip Andrew Jacobson, 86
Phil Jacobson went in peace to join his Father in heaven on Saturday, April 14, 2018. After diagnosis of late stage acute myeloid leukemia, he spent his last days cared for and surrounded by his family in the comfort of his home in Edina, Minnesota. He was born in Story City, Iowa on May 14, 1931 to Anna (Marvick) and Alfred Jacobson. In 1953 he graduated with a degree in political science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he developed lifelong friendships, sang with the St. Olaf Choir and traveled to Alaska and Yugoslavia for summer work adventures. After military service in the U.S. Army Finance Corp in Germany, Phil returned to Iowa where he began his career in banking. He proposed to Diane Thorsheim on the second date, married her six months later on February 18, 1956 and remained in love with her for life. Their equal partnership, deep friendship and Christ centered marriage was an example to their children Kirsten (and Joe) Stasney, John (and Joanne) Jacobson and Cyndi (and Dave) Meldahl; grandchildren Andrew (and Brittney) Meldahl, Daniel (and Camille) Jacobson, Elise Meldahl and Kari Jacobson (and Antoine Gilbert) and great-grandson Abram. In 1964, Phil followed a call to mission, serving as Treasurer and Representative of the American Lutheran Church in Ethiopia and Treasurer of the North Ethiopia Synod Executive Committee of the Mekane Yesus Church. After passing his responsibilities to his Ethiopian colleagues, Phil returned to the U.S. as Finance Director of the Division of Global Missions for the American Lutheran Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, including a sabbatical with Lutheran World Federation in Geneva, Switzerland. After his retirement in 1996, Phil continued to passionately support mission work in Ethiopia and Global Health Ministries. He was defined by his faith and lived his life listening to, caring about and giving to others. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters Katherine Munsen and Marjorie Hart, and many other family and friends. A celebration of life service will be held at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 4801 France Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN on May 19, 2018 with visitation at 10:00 am and a Celebration of Life at 11:00 am. Memorials preferred to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Foundation and Global Heath Ministries.