Gertrude Marie Jacobsen

Gertrude Marie Jacobsen, the daughter of Amiel and Hulda Helen (Fries) Troll, was born on September 26, 1919, in Monroe Township, rural Walnut, Iowa. She attended Monroe Township #5 country school through the eighth grade. Gertrude then worked as a hired girl, helping area families. She later did house cleaning, and in the 1960’s, cleaned the Immanuel Lutheran Church and parsonage in Harlan, Iowa. On June 1, 1942, she married John Harold Jacobsen in Papillion, Nebraska.

Gertrude was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, where she was baptized on November 7, 1948. She was active in the Neighborhood Club, played cards, and enjoyed polka music and watching professional wrestling. Gertrude also enjoyed embroidering, making quilt blocks, canning, baking, and gardening. She liked to play Bingo and had called Bingo at the Elm Crest Retirement Community.

Gertrude M. Jacobsen died on Saturday, August 21, 2004, at the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, at the age of 84 years, 10 months, and 26 days.

Preceding Gertrude in death were her parents; her husband, John H. Jacobsen, on July 31, 1989; one son, Merlen (Merv) Jacobsen; and two brothers, Wilfred Troll and Alvin Troll. Survivors include two sons, Larry (Linda) Jacobsen of Houston, Texas, and Dan (Carmela) Jacobsen of Harlan, Iowa; six sisters, Alverta Hansen and Dorothy Randeris, both of Audubon, Iowa, Leora (Olav) Kirk of Harlan, Iowa, Ruth (Elmer) Heimerman of Boone, Iowa, Darlene Arp of Shelby, Iowa, and Nancy Blum of Minnesota; one daughter-in-law, Linda Jacobsen (fiancé, Jay Fahn) of Harlan, Iowa; five grandchildren, Angi (Marty) Stein of Harlan, Iowa, Tina (Tim) Gorham of Carroll, Iowa, Lindy Jacobsen of Houston, Texas, Bonnie Jacobsen (fiancé, Brian Reinig) of Des Moines, Iowa, and Amy Jacobsen of Harlan, Iowa; five great-grandchildren, Matthew, Hannah, Alaina, Aleshia, and Andria; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, August 24, 2004, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Pastor Heather Ploen officiating. Steve Petty served as organist, and Diane Kastens was the soloist. Casket bearers were Rick Sorensen, Marty Stein, Roger Randeris, Lynn Heimerman, Eugene Troll, and Richard W. Hansen. Burial was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.