Richard Warren Jacobson

Richard Warren Jacobson died Sept. 2, 2014, at his home in Walla Walla with his daughters and son at his side. Richard, who went by Jake, was 88. Jake was born in Vancouver, Wash., on April 7, 1926, to Swedish immigrants Agnes Lindberg Jacobson and Herman Jacobson.

He graduated in 1944 from Vancouver High School, where he was a wing-T quarterback on the football team and a discus thrower on the track and field team He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II. He graduated from Washington State College in 1948 with a bachelor of arts in mathematics.

Jake took a job as a math teacher in 1948 at Sunnyside High School. He taught advanced math and other classes in Sunnyside until he retired in 1990 after 42 years. He was named Outstanding Educator of the Year his last year on the job.

Jake found another love — his most important love — during his first year of teaching when he met another young teacher, Hazel Claudia Pennell of Prescott. They married on July 30, 1949, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Walla Walla. Their reception was at the ballroom at the Marcus Whitman Hotel.

He took a year off from teaching to earn a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Minnesota in 1967. It was an adventure for Jake, Hazel and their young family as they all moved to Minneapolis. Later, he earned another master’s degree, this time at Washington State University.

Another of his loves was coaching. He was the boxing coach at Sunnyside High until high schools dropped boxing. His coaching passion was track and field and cross country. He coached both boys and girls, starting the girls’ program in 1972. He coached several champions in his 40 years as track coach. He was also happy to pass along the love of track and field to his children, some of whom competed for him at Sunnyside High. After retiring from coaching, Jake continued to teach proper running, throwing and jumping techniques to some of his grandchildren. He knew what he was doing.

Jake had one of his many proud moments over his grandchildren’s accomplishments when Luke Jacobson won the NAIA National Championship in the discus in 1998 and the NCAA Division III National Championship in 1999. Jake was, of course, equally proud of each of his other grandchildren — Brent Nysoe, Tyler Nysoe, Katie Jacobson Roylance, Ryan Jacobson, Travis Oldfield, Claire Oldfield, Emma Eskil, Adam Eskil, Connor Weaver and Sophie Weaver. Jake and Hazel traversed the state (and sometimes the nation) for 30 years watching and enjoying hundreds of sporting events and dance recitals. Jake was an avid WSU Cougar football fan who rarely missed a home game after he retired from teaching.

Friends were important to Jake and Hazel. They and their friends tried to start a bridge club in the 1950s. They quickly found they had no taste for cards, but did enjoy an occasional gin and tonic. These get-togethers were jokingly referred to as meetings of the Dine & Drink Club. The gatherings transcended generations and brought several families very close to the Jacobsons.

In the early years, Jake, Hazel and their kids would go to Cannon Beach in the summer. In later years, Jake and Hazel hauled their grandkids to Cannon Beach, which held a special place for them and their family. Jake and Hazel purchased a cabin at Andy Creek on Rimrock Lake in 1994. They enjoyed spending time together at the cabin. Jake enjoyed fishing, particularly with his children and grandchildren.

He was an avid reader of books and newspapers. He enjoyed following politics and current affairs. Jake was very skilled at fixing things using his mind as well as his tools. He could figure out how to make just about any repair, and he was still using that sharp mind almost to the day he died. Jake was a big fan of musicals, which he attended regularly in Yakima and Walla Walla.

But as a hobby, gardening was Jake’s joy. He spent hours with his flowers, fruits and vegetables that he planted on his five acres in Sunnyside. For several years he grew asparagus, which he and his daughters cut each morning before school. Everything Jake grew was first rate, but his zinnias were incredibly beautiful and his raspberries were extraordinarily tasty. Hazel used those berries to make jam that was legendary.

Hazel died on Sept. 1, 2008. About a year later Jake moved from Sunnyside to Walla Walla. Jake lived at Wheatland Village.

He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Dick and Judy Jacobson of Selah, Wash.; four daughters and sons-in-law, Claudia and Dain Nysoe of Dayton, Christine and Brad Oldfield of Everett, Wash., Jennifer and Rick Eskil of Walla Walla, and Margee and Robert Weaver of Port Orchard, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, Brent (Tara) Nysoe of Seattle, Tyler (Laura) Nysoe of Maple Valley, Wash., Luke (Terra) of Tacoma, Katie (Jared) Roylance of Moses Lake, Wash., Ryan (Monika) Jacobson of Seattle, Claire and Travis Oldfield of Everett, Wash., Connor and Sophia Weaver of Port Orchard, Wash., and Emma and Adam Eskil of Walla Walla; 10 great-grandchildren and an 11th great-grandchild is on the way. Jake is also survived by one brother, Ken Jacobson of The Dalles, Ore. He was preceded in death by his wife; brother, George; and sisters, Helen, Florence and Gloria.
A big thank you from the family to the Wheatland staff and Hospice.

A Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 12, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Walla Walla. Graveside service and burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. A reception to celebrate Jake’s life starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Walla Walla Country Club. In lieu of flowers please donate to Walla Walla Hospice. Access the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home website at herringgroseclose.com to sign a guestbook.

The Jacobson family will host a reception in Sunnyside at Snipes Mountain Brewery
& Restaurant on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.