Karyn Jacobsen

Karyn "Kaye" T. Jacobsen, age 78, of Willmar, died Sunday evening, November 5, at  Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, November 11, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Burial will be in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.  Friends may call from 5-7 PM Friday at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and at the church one hour prior to the services.  Memorials are preferred to the Humane Society of Kandiyohi County or to the Church of St. Mary.

Karyn "Kaye" Therese Jacobsen was born on February 27, 1939 in Minneapolis, MN, the ninth child of Walter and Evelyn H. (Therres) Rognrud.  She grew up in Columbia Heights and attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for her first two years.  At the age of 7 she moved with her family to Detroit Lakes, MN, and attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and graduated from the Detroit Lakes High School in 1956.  Kaye continued her education and graduated from the Rogers & Brenner School of Cosmetology in Minneapolis is 1957.  On September 7, 1957, she was married to Gerald "Jerry" Gene Jacobsen and they made their home in Willmar, MN and raised 5 sons; Tim, Rick, Jon, Mike and Pat. Kaye worked with  Jerry in his business, Jacobsen Pump & Tank Company for 23 years, worked at Crown Hallmark, Total Image Salon in Spicer, was Business Manager for the Royal Court Family Salon, Elizabeth Arden Consultant at Herberger's, Manager of Super 8 Motel for 6 years, manager of Comfort Inn Hotel and front desk guest relations at Holiday Inn for 10 years retiring in 2006. She was active in her boys lives and was active in St. Mary's Scouting Troop 227,  was a member of D of I, instrumental in getting St. Mary's Fall Bazaar organized and a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.  She also served as coordinator for the Agency for International Visitors for the U of M and the Agency for International Development in Washington, DC, bringing foreign university students  to Willmar for over 30 years.  Kaye had a great love of animals and was very happy that this was passed on to the rest of her family.  She enjoyed cooking, baking, entertaining, music, and dancing and singing duets with Jerry, but she number one passion was her family and being "Nana" to her grandchildren or anyone else that happened to walk through her door.

Kaye is survived by her children; Tim of Oakdale, Rick (and Sheila Suski) of Rogers, Jon (and Janet) of Willmar, Mike (and Kristin) of Willmar and Pat (and Brenda) Jacobsen of New London, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  Also surviving are 4 sisters-in-law; Ginny Jacobsen of Melbourne Beach, FL, Janie Rognrud of Burnsville, Eugenie Rognrud of Little Rock, AR and Mary Rognrud of Madison, WI, her 3 dogs, Georgi, Grayci and Gigi, her cat Logan and Tuki her parrot, 40 nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 53 years, Jerry, 5 brothers; Stanley, Roger, Richard, Dan and John Rognrud, 3 sisters; Jeanne Hoffstrom, Grayci Sultzback, and Margaret Schmidt, 3 nieces, 3 nephews, 1 great nephew and 1 brother-in-law, Tom Jacobsen.

Cemetery Details