Ella - Age 99 - Los Alamos - Jacobson

ELLA M. JACOBSON, 99, a resident of Los Alamos since 1998, died December 26. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Lena Peters, husband Graham; sister, Mary; and brothers: Russell and Aulden. She is survived by son, Edward, daughter-in-law Adelaide, and grandson Austin of Los Alamos; brother-in-law, Donald Williams of Mansfield, Massachusetts; and nieces and nephews in nine states. At age 26 she enrolled at the University of Iowa and received a Bachelor of Science degree in foods and nutrition in 1942. During college summers she worked as a cook at summer camps run by Hull House in Illinois and by Chicago Commons in Michigan. She married Graham Jacobson in Iowa City on May 3, 1943. Following World War II, during a short period of which they lived in El Paso before Graham was sent to Okinawa, they settled in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They did much of the construction on the house Graham designed and in which they lived from 1947 until they moved to an independent living apartment in 1995. In Cedar Falls, Ella was an active volunteer in school, church, other organizations, and in providing dietetic services for a small nursing home. After Graham's death Ella moved to Los Alamos where she volunteered at the United Church's thrift shop until spring of 2008 and operated a sewing machine on Wednesday mornings with the RSVP quilters at the senior center until May 2011. She enjoyed telling stories about her time managing the food service at the Quadrangle dormitory at the University of Iowa, where her eclectic wartime crew, ranging in age from 13 to 72, provided the meals for the Navy pre-flight school which had taken over the dormitory. Other stories dealt with pre-Depression activities on the farm, including interactions with animals both domestic and wild. Although her mother did not wholeheartedly approve, she helped her oldest brother skin the skunks he trapped. Ella reasoned that he needed help, and he paid her 10 or 15 cents per pelt. Public visitation will begin on Thursday, December 29, 2011 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the United Church in Los Alamos, 2525 Canyon Road. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. also at the United Church in Los Alamos. Interment will be at Illyria-Highland Cemetery, Fayette County, Iowa, a mile from the farmhouse in which she was born on February 6, 1912. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be given to the United Church of Los Alamos Thrift Shop Renovation Fund or charity of choice. The family of Ella M. Jacobson has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-662-2400

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