Joan Jacobson

A memorial service celebrating the life of Joan E. Jacobson (nee Peterson), 78, of Seminole, FL will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Oakhurst United Methodist Church, 13400 Park Blvd., Seminole, FL 33776. Joan died on Nov. 1st at Comprehensive Healthcare of Clearwater. She was born on February 14, 1935 in Owatonna, Minnesota to Richard and Norma (Weaver) Peterson. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1952. After graduation she received certification as a dental hygienist. In 1954 she met her future husband, John A. Jacobson. They were married on December 14, 1957 and were loving best friends and partners for nearly 56 years. Joan's greatest joy in life was raising her four children, Richard Alan, Gale Lee, Jill Elaine and Karen Kay. She always had time to play games, color and plan outings to the beach while the kids were young. She volunteered at her children's schools and at Excelsior United Methodist Church. Joan hosted many of the youth who would come to the house to swim in the family pool. She also worked in the catering business. During her lifetime, Joan used these skills to provide delicious meals for the people she loved. This not only included her family, but her kid's friends, her church family and the community. During her later years, Joan devoted many hours to Oakhurst United Methodist Church, including Missions, the Care Committee, and for the Prime Timers. Joan had a warm and friendly spirit. She made everyone feel welcome and had a gift for making people feel special and loved. She loved to laugh, play games and go out to lunch. She took care of everyone and knew how to make them feel better. She lovingly cared for her parents and in-laws as they failed in health and was only a phone call away to her son, daughters, and friends who needed a listening ear. She always stopped whatever she was doing to listen and care for others. Anyone that knew Joan and John Jacobson could clearly see the love, respect, and devotion they had for each other. As the girls were growing up they remember many of their friends commenting on how lucky they were to have John and Joan as their parents. The atmosphere of love they created in their home was a safe haven for many of their friends. Some even grew so comfortable and loved they began calling them Mom and Dad. This was often evident when you would find their children's friends having coffee with Joan at the kitchen table even after the kid's no longer lived at home. The delight she had in her children was magnified when she became a grandmother. She was given the name TaTa by her grandson A.J. and it stuck. She loved spending time with her grandkids and enjoyed hearing every detail about them. Really, no detail was too small. She often commented that her greatest joy was being able to participate in their lives as they grew up. If there was a concert, baseball game, or birthday party, TaTa would be there if she could. Her grandchildren would look forward to every meal she made and Tata always made sure that she cooked their special requests during every visit. One of her favorite Christmas gifts every year was a calendar that her son-in-law, Paul made for her that included pictures of the grandchildren for each month. She is survived by her husband and four children; 3 grandsons John Adam Jacobson (Kana), Adam John Post, Ryan Jacob Post, 2 granddaughters; Nyambura Kaylee Njenga, Hannah Ruth Post; son-in-law Paul T. Post, daughter-in-law Barb Jacobson, sister-in-law Jackie Jacobson and nephew Richard (Rick), P. Jacobson (Susan) as well as many close friends. Joan was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Norma (Weaver) Peterson and her in-laws; Adam and Janet(Pomeroy) Jacobson, her brother -in- law Richard (Dick)P. Jacobson and sister-in-law Jean (Beneke) Jacobson. The Family wishes to express their gratitude for the loving care and concern of the staff at Comprehensive Health Care in Clearwater, Florida. No words can adequately express how much the words of comfort from the dedicated staff at Comprehensive meant to Joan and her family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Oakhurst United Methodist Church missions as Joan was a passionate supporter of those efforts or to the American Cancer Society.