Kenneth “Ken” Jacobsen, 79, of Newton, Iowa, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away at the Park Centre Retirement Community in Newton on Tuesday, June 13, 2017.
Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, June 20 at All Saints Parish – St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars, with burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton, Iowa. Visitation was from 5-8 p.m.with a 7 p.m. scripture service at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars on Monday, June 19.
Kenneth Lee Jacobsen was born Aug. 14, 1937, in Mitchell, to Harvey Martin Jacobsen and Lucille Agnus (McGraw) Jacobsen. He spent his early years growing up on a farm outside of Letcher, and played football, basketball and baseball for Letcher High School, graduating in 1955. He continued his education at South Dakota State University in Brookings, where he was a Golden Glove boxer and joined the National Guard, earning the rank of staff sergeant. He attended military training in Texas, where he became a triage medic.  Following graduation, he became district salesman for Ralston Purina Company and worked in Redfield and later in Norfolk, Neb.
On Nov. 5, 1966, Kenneth married Shirley Vanderham Eilers in Le Mars, Iowa, and they were together for over 50 years. During that time they owned Eilers Farm Service in Craig and Struble, Iowa. They also farmed 80 acres and operated a farrowing-to-finish hog confinement. Later in life, Ken became a real estate property appraiser and worked in the industry for over 20 years. The couple moved to Le Mars in 2000. Ken retired from appraising at the age of 75, and in April of 2017, they moved to Newton, Iowa.
Ken attended his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events whenever he could, and enjoyed golfing and bowling throughout his life.
Ken is survived by his wife, Shirley Jacobsen; two children and two step-sons, Michael (Colleen) Jacobsen, and Robin (Matthew) Moore, Thomas (Virginia) Eilers, and Gregory (Shari) Eilers; step daughter-in-law, Marsha Eilers; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert (Becky) Jacobsen; one sister, Nancy (Don) Lewis; and two sisters-in-law, Joan and Deb Jacobsen; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two of his brothers, John and Dennis Jacobsen; and stepson, Mark Eilers.