Dale Jacobsen 1947-2024
Dale John (Jake) Jacobsen, 76, of Circileville, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at The Pines of Holton, KS. with his family by his side. Dale had been diagnosed with terminal metastatic brain and lung cancer on Dec. 7, 2023, stemming from colon cancer in 2021. Dale had said he’d be at Holliday’s 4th Of July Team Roping, and sure enough… he flew in!
Dale was the first born to John B. (Jake) and Pearl D. (McDonald) Jacobsen on Dec. 5, 1947, in Geneva, Neb. Dale was baptized. The family moved from Nebraska to the Lasswell/Meyers Ranch at Emmett on March 1, 1953. Dale attended and graduated Emmett Grade School and Delia HS in 1966. Dale attended Fort Hays State University.
Dale was drafted into the U.S. Army from 1966-1968, serving at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Fort Polk, La., and Fort Riley, where he broke, trained and worked in the stables taking of United States General’s horses finishing out his last year of service.
Dale married Carolyn McGee on March 19, 1971. Dale and Carolyn had three sons: Randy, Shane and Chad.
Dale was proud to be part of the family Jacobsen Rodeo Co. of Delia for many years and was a pick-up man, drove the semi hauling the stock to the many rodeo towns. Plus, all of the other work that goes into running a rodeo company. He and Carolyn had the baby boys and drove the pickup truck and trailer hauling the steers/calves/etc. while Pearl took care of the boys. It was often said that it looked like Willie Nelson’s song, “going down the road like a band of gypsies,” usually traveling at night so as not to get caught with tail lights out and driving around scales and check points. Dale was voted pick-up man of the year multiple times in the United Rodeo Association (URA).
Dale competed in barebacks, bull riding, calf roping, bulldogging and team roping events and won several all-around titles. Dale was one of the best “pasture” ropers around. One day that was put to a major test, as we were at a rodeo in southern Kansas and the Sheriff came and told us that a little seven-year-old boy had been kidnapped the night before, after the rodeo. Dale and another cowboy saddled their horses and off they took. The predator was found running down the middle of the railroad tracks. They saw him and at full speed and though very treacherous, Dale reached out with his loop and roped him and brought him back to the sheriff. The predator may have been a little worse for wear, as he might have “tripped” a few times as they were bringing him back!
Dale broke colts, cowboyed for various ranches and worked at several sale barns in the area, with his proudest being working beside his dad in the ring at Marysville Livestock Exchange, Marysville, for many years. Dale drove semis most of his life, with the last 17 years at Hollis Truck Line, Valley Falls. Dale’s greatest accomplishment there was driving more than two million miles, accident and ticket-free.
Dale is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Carolyn; mother, Pearl; sister, Bonita “Sis” (Wilbur) Stum Jr.; three sons, Randy (Sandy), Shane (Julie) and Chad (Jamie); seven grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; five nephews; one niece; three aunts; several cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Mike and Vickie McGee, Jo and Steve Ingels and many longtime family friends.
He was preceded in death by his dad, Jake Jacobsen; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Betty and Willis “Fibber” McGee; grandparents Clyde and Marguerite Jacobsen and Claude and Lucy McDonald; uncles Francis, Bill, Floyd and Glen Jacobsen; and aunts, Karen Jacobsen; and Mark Morgan.
As per Dale’s wishes, visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, July 10 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors will follow at the Holton Cemetery. Dale will lie in state from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be given to Holton Community Hospital – Home, Health and Hospice or Cowboys Helping Cowboys, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
