Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271925
Title: Wayne A. Jacobson
Date: 5/23/1949-10/17/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 5/23/1949
Summary: On October 17, 2025, Wayne Allan Jacobson, of Bismarck, ND, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife and three children. Funeral services were held October 24, 2025, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck. After a courageous 22-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, it was time for him to reunite with his parents, Merle and Olga, and the many dear friends who had gone before him. Wayne left behind an imprint on everyone who knew him. Wayne was born on May 23, 1949, in Rugby, ND. From his father, he inherited a lovable personality, a quick wit, and an endless sense of humor; from his mother, a deep compassion, charisma, and a passion to help others. From an early age, Wayne loved sports and competition, always willing to play another game. He playfully bragged about his athletic accomplishments, but nothing ever topped his favorite claim to fame: “five touchdowns in one game.” After graduating from Valley City State University, Wayne began his professional journey as a history and PE teacher in Anamoose, ND. It wasn’t long after that he met Ellen, the love of his life, on a blind date. During their wedding vows a year later, Wayne famously forgot his lines and instead promised to give Ellen “anything she wants.” That promise turned out to be one he kept and it delivered a lifetime of adventure. Together, they built a beautiful life in Bismarck, raising three children - Kari, Katie, and Tom. There were years of softball games and parking lot beers, backyard grill-outs, road trips, family vacations, kids' sports games, and countless stories retold over and over. Wayne spent most of his career in finance with Investment Centers of America, where he built many lifelong relationships. His proudest title was always “Dad,” and later, “Papa.” The sound of his nine grandchildren running through the house, laughing and yelling, was music to his ears. Wayne had a gift for making everyone feel like an old friend. Whether you met him once or knew him a lifetime, he made you feel seen, welcomed, and part of something special. This was his gift. Tough to describe, impossible to forget. He loved chasing the Arizona sun in the winters, staying strong and young through his boxing workouts, and hosting friends on the back patio - where stories, laughter, and one more drink were always on the menu. Wayne is survived by his sister, Nancy (Rick) Consdorf of Fargo; his wife, Ellen Jacobson of Bismarck; daughter, Kari (Ryan) Weigel of Bismarck; daughter, Katie (Nathan) Stewart of Bismarck; son, Tom Jacobson (Alyssa) of Minneapolis; and his nine grandchildren — Sydney, Sadie, and TJ Weigel of Bismarck, Braelyn, Jaedyn, and Ashtyn Stewart of Bismarck, and Claire, Emmy, and Lucy Jacobson of Minneapolis.
Red ID: FND_I_79419 Image ID: 540166 Image Notes: FND001 271925

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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