Wallace Jacobson, 1926-2014

Published 9:00 am Sunday, December 21, 2014

Wallace Eugene Jacobson, 88, of Wells, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at Parkview Care Center in Wells. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Wells United Methodist Church. Visitation

Wallace Jacobson

will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and will continue one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Wells and the Rev. Paul Woolverton will officiate. Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home of Wells is assisting the family

Wallace Eugene was born April 13, 1926, in Kelly Lake, the son of Christian and Lillie (Espe) Jacobson. The family moved to the Brainerd area where he attended and graduated from Pillager High School in 1943.

At 17, Wallace enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He received his basic training at Farragut, Idaho, and then shipped to Pearl Harbor where he went to amphibious training and radio school. He achieved the rank of Radioman 3rd Class, and was assigned to the communications ship the USS Ancon. They sailed to Saipan on the way to Okinawa. They were the flagship for Vice Admiral Harry Hill and were in charge of the air and sea defenses for Okinawa. For three weeks they were subjected to constant aerial attacks. They sailed to Subic Bay in the Philippines and became the Flagship for Vice Admiral Daniel Barbey and were part of the planning stages for the attack of Japan. When Japan surrendered they were assigned as the press release ship for the occupation and surrender of Japan. In August 1945 they sailed into Tokyo Bay. They were anchored between the USS Missouri and USS South Dakota at the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. They sailed back to San Francisco and through the Panama Canal to New York. When he got off the ship, he was then transferred to Minneapolis where he received an honorable discharge.

Wally returned to the Brainerd area where he attended Brainerd Junior College and graduated in 1948. He attended the University of Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis.

He returned to the Staples area and married Olive Hanson Oct. 22, 1950. The couple moved to the Duluth area where he worked for Twig Lumber & Hardware. They later moved to Minnesota Lake and he went to work for Nordaas American Homes. In 1972 he co-founded his own home building company, “A Home of Your Own.” He worked there until his retirement in 1995. In March 1997, Olive preceded Wallace in death. He married Eileen Stoen in 2000.

Wallace enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, fishing, gardening and horse racing. He was always a Twins and Gophers fan, and enjoyed the times with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved spending time with his boys.

Wally is survived by his sons David (Carol) of Wells, Daniel (Bonnie) of Wells, Mark of Winona and Tim of Burnsville; brother, Clarence (JoAnn), of Baxter; grandchildren Rob (Ramona), Jeff (Jessica) and Laura (Ryan) Borris; and eight great-grandchildren, Ariel, Wyatt, Jack, Devon, Lyndsey, Brynn, Cale and Ashlynn.

Wally is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Olive; son, Stephen; wife, Eileen; and sister, Ethel.