March 10, 1938 – March 16, 2026
Barbara Jean Jacobsen was born on March 10, 1938, in Pocahontas, Iowa to Chester and Violet (Whisler) Whistler. She died on March 16, 2026 at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Palo Alto Hospital Auxiliary, Hospice of Palo Alto County, Graettinger Methodist Church, or Graettinger Senior Center.
Barbara graduated from Pocahontas High School before marrying Lowell Jacobsen on July 29, 1956, at the Pocahontas Methodist Church. In the first years of their marriage, they lived in Storm Lake, Lester, Rock Rapids, and Albert City.
For over 40 years, Barbara worked side by side with Lowell on the farm east of Graettinger, Iowa. She was capable of everything that was required to run a tractor, keep a lawn mower running, changing oil in the cars, all while keeping up the house and putting 3 meals a day on the table in addition to a “lunch” mid-morning and another mid-afternoon. She enjoyed baking and especially making pies. In her free time, she loved to play cards at the Senior Center. She was a member of the Graettinger United Methodist Church, United Women in Faith, the church circle, and spent many years on the church board. In addition to church, she was the President of the Senior Center, member of the Palo Alto County Hospital Auxiliary for 50 plus years, board member of South Walnut Cemetery Association, and spent countless hours volunteering in the community such as serving at the food pantry. She was always there to lend a hand where needed.
Her home was always a place where everyone felt welcome to stop by for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat. Family and friends often filled every chair at her kitchen table. She loved every moment.
Barbara is survived by her children, Lowell (Charlotte) of Fairway, Kansas, Susan of Graettinger, Iowa, and Sandra (Alan) Burgers of Worcester, Massachusetts, two
granddaughters, Kate (Masanori) Honda of Northborough, Massachusetts and Alexandra Burgers of Kansas City, Missouri, two great-granddaughters, Naomi and Kimiko Honda: siblings Donald Whistler and Linda Shekey.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lowell, her parents, Chester and Violet Whistler, brothers Frederick and Warren, sister Donna Mendoza, sister-in-law Karen
Whistler, brothers-in-law Herbert Jacobsen and wife Violet, and Delbert Jacobsen and wife Chloe and sister-in-law Patricia Jacobsen.
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