Mary Jacobsen, age 96 of Sac City, IA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City. Mary Catherine Duffy was born on April 19, 1928, the youngest of five children, to parents John and Genevieve (Harrington) Duffy in Storm Lake, IA. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Mary graduated from Storm Lake St. Mary’s High School in 1945. After high school, she moved to Omaha, NE, where she worked at WOW, an AM radio station, for a few years.
On April 15, 1948, Mary was united in marriage to Donald Jacobsen at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. The two of them met while dancing at Cobblestone in Storm Lake, something they would continue to love doing together for the rest of their marriage. They lived on a farm about ten miles southeast of Sac City where they raised their five children, Linda, Jean, Jim, Joe, and Nancy. They remained on the acreage until retiring in 1988 at which point they moved to South 11th Street in Sac City.
Mary was an active member of St. Mary’s Guild, was a CCD teacher, church choir member, and sat on the church council. She was a Red Cross volunteer, and was a member of the Loring Hospital Auxiliary.
Mary enjoyed trips to the casino and playing cards. She belonged to many card clubs, several of which Don also participated in. As mentioned above, she and Don loved dancing. They could be found on the weekends at Lakewood Ballroom or The Cobblestone, tearing up the dance floor. The two also enjoyed many trips, one of their most memorable being to Hawaii with friends from North Dakota. After retiring, Mary and Don purchased a place in Arizona where they wintered for a few years until Don’s passing in 1997.
Mary was a hardworking, very faithful, loving wife, mother, and grandmother. You never left her house hungry as she was always serving food; if you sat at her table, she insisted you eat. She was always on the go and liked staying busy. Spending time with her family brought her so much joy as she was so proud of all of them. Mary was also proud of her Irish heritage. She will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her. Rest assured she is now in the arms of our Savior, resting in His glorious kingdom, for eternity.
She is survived by her children, Linda Gordon of Iowa City, IA, Jean (Dave) Zimmerman of Emmetsburg, IA, Joe (Renae) Jacobsen of Sac City, IA, and Nancy (Kent) Laursen of Springfield, MO; daughter-in-law Vickie Jacobsen of Omaha, NE; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Don Jacobsen; son Jim Jacobsen, granddaughter-in-law Brigitte Jacobsen; son-in-law Jim Gordon; parents John and Genevieve Duffy; brothers Byron, Gregory, and Paul Duffy; and sister Eileen Baker.
