Irven Jacobson

Mass of Christian Burial for Irven "Jake" Jacobson will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church with, Most Rev. David L. Ricken, Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne officiating. Rite of committal will follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, December 10, 2007 at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home with a Vigil service starting at 7:00 p.m.Irven A. Jacobson, age 79, of Gillette, Wyoming, formerly of Laramie, Wyoming died at Campbell County Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 after a long illness.Mr. Jacobson was born in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 1928 the son of Irven and Antoinette Jacobson. He was raised in the Denver area, graduating from Arvada High School in Arvada in 1946. He received a B.A. degree in Chemistry form the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1950. Following his graduation, he was employed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Laramie, Wyoming, where he conducted research in the characterization and analysis of shale oil. His major research contributions were in the area of the thermal reactions of organic nitrogen compounds. He had several original publications in this area of work and presented the work before local and national scientific societies. He retired from government service in 1983. Through his work he met Mary Kathleen Skinner, whom he married in 1964. They have one son, Father Cliff Jacobson, pastor of St. Mathew's Catholic Church in Gillette, Wyoming. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. In addition to his work and his family he found great joy in nature through gardening, fly fishing and camping in the Snowy Range Mountains. He had a passion for trains and had a large hand built model railroad layout in Laramie. In his retirement, he also enjoyed counted cross stitch and travel. In 1992 Mr. Jacobson joined the Catholic Church, and his church and his faith were a great source of strength and life. He served the church in many ways, including helping in the parish office and coordination Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Laurence O'Toole in Laramie. He was also known for the Rosaries which he made, and he also made mission rosaries which were sent to missionaries throughout the world. After more than 50 years in Laramie, he and his wife moved to Gillette, Wyoming in 2005 due to his health and to be near their son. He was a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Gillette, Knights of Columbus Council 2720 in Laramie, American Chemical Society, Sigma XI science honorary, National Model Railroaders, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Association.Irven is survived by his wife, Kathleen Jacobson of Gillette, Wyoming; son, Father Cliff Jacobson of Gillette, Wyoming; brother, Donley Jacobson of Fairfax, Virginia and several nieces and nephews.Memorial contributions may be made in his name to John Paul II Catholic School at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Gillette. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonwilson.com.