Mary Ruth Jacobson

Mary Ruth Jacobson was born in Watertown, Wisconsin on July 20, 1932. The oldest of nine children, Mary took to caring for others from a young age. She pursued this passion and graduated from Milwaukee County Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. While in nursing school Mary met Richard "Dick" Jacobson and the two married in Fort Atkinson, WI in 1954. They followed Dick's career with McDonald Douglas (Boeing) to St Louis, MO where Dick worked as an aeronautic engineer and Mary worked as a floor nurse at Deaconess Hospital. While in St Louis, their family grew with a son Brian and daughter Debra. Dick’s job took them to the arid dessert of Lancaster, CA where Mary continued her career working at Antelope Valley Hospital and their family grew with the addition of two more daughters, Laura and Sharon. In 1969 the family relocated back to St. Louis and Mary went to work as a school nurse for the Hazelwood School District. Dick and Mary longed to get back to sunny California so they relocated one more time to Visalia in 1980. Mary worked for about 20 years for Tulare County Health Department in the TB clinic, finally retiring in 1999 to pursue her many hobbies and varied interests. From zip-lining in Costa Rica to touring the pyramids in Egypt, Mary had a passion for traveling and her adventures took her all around the world. She was often joined on these trips by her siblings and close friends. Mary had a passion for the arts and she was extraordinarily talented at everything she did from decorating cakes to quilting. She often frequented the symphony and plays, and was an avid painter. Her favorite subjects to paint were scenic images from her travels and her grandchildren. After a short illness, Mary passed away on February 8, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her son Brian (Dana) Jacobson, brother Phillip (Katie) Reuteler, and sister Joanne Reuteler. She is survived by daughters Debra (John) Meyer, Laura (Jeff) Botich, and Sharon (David) Calender, her nine grandchildren Danny (Sarah) Meyer, Erin Meyer, Andy Jacobson, Samantha (Brian) Weimann, Kaily Botich, Tarah Botich, Joel Calender, Jacob Calender, and Jenay Calender, and two great-grandsons Lucas Meyer and Jacob Wiemann. She is also survived by her siblings Jim (Barbara) Reuteler, Sue (John) Behling, Nancy Reuteler, Carol (Bill) McCool, Pat (Bert) Duncan, and Jeanne (Al) Werth. Visitation will be held at the Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, Visalia, on February 10 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on February 11 at 11:00 am at Christ Lutheran Church, Visalia, where Mary was an active member in the church community for over 35 years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association. Condolences can be made to www.salseranddillard.com

Mary Ruth Jacobson

July 20, 1932 - February 8, 2017