Glenn Jacobsen

GLENN JACOBSEN

Iowa City

Glenn D. Jacobsen, 77, longtime Iowa City dentist, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at his home in Iowa City following a courageous battle with bile duct cancer. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 29, at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St., Iowa City. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.

Glenn was born near Bradgate, Iowa, on Oct. 25, 1937. He grew up on farms in Humboldt County with his parents, John and Millie (Gregersen) Jacobsen, and his brother, Eldon (Deloria) Jacobsen. From his Danish parents he learned hard work, a strong faith and perseverance.

In 1955, he graduated from Bradgate High School and then went to Eagle Grove Junior College on a basketball scholarship. By working road construction, he was able to continue his education at Luther College and got his B.A. in 1959. He joined the Luther College faculty after graduation as instructor of biology and chemistry.

With a prestigious National Defense Scholarship, he got his Ph.D. in human anatomy at the University of North Dakota in 1965. He was next an assistant professor of anatomy at the University of Missouri and the University of Iowa. Multiple times he was awarded Teacher of the Year.

After having taught dental students, he decided to use his skills and become one. In 1976, he graduated from the University of Iowa Dental School with a D.D.S. He was a dentist in Iowa City and Oxford and strived to give his patients the best care available. During part of this time he was also an adjunct associate at the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy teaching classes. He retired in 2006 after 30 years of dentistry.

It took a lot of mettle for a small town farm boy to accomplish all of that, but his most courageous moment of all came earlier in life. He knocked on the pastor's door when a girl he liked was in confirmation class to ask if he could walk her home. Eight years later, in 1961, that same pastor married Glenn and his girl, Priscilla Holt, at Ottosen Lutheran Church. Together they have two daughters and seven grandchildren. Their church home during marriage has been Christ the King Lutheran Church and now Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City.

His family meant the world to him, and it was always important to Glenn to have a project. Often his projects were to build things he could play in with the grandchildren, like a pond, secret garden, and two-story treehouse. He was a steward of God's beautiful land and took great pride in growing fruits and vegetables and tending the land. When not outside, Glenn was busy woodworking: building cabinets or a garage, fixing things or carving wood figurines.

He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and he will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Priscilla (Holt) Jacobsen of Iowa City; his daughters, Cynthia (Mike) Brody, Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Deborah (David) Rexroth, Farmington Hills, Mich.; his grandchildren, Jacqueline, Madeline, Katherine and Caroline Brody, Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Andrew, John and Christopher Rexroth, Farmington Hills, Mich.; his brother, Eldon (Deloria) Jacobsen, Cedar Rapids; his sisters-in-law, Mary Anne (Scott) deVry, Martha (Rob) Thompson, Dianne Holt and Rachel (George) Shidler; nieces and nephews; and many relatives in Denmark.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Millie (Gregersen) Jacobsen; his brother-in-law, Peter Holt; and his good friend, Jim Denham.

Memorials may be made to Reach For Your Potential (provides services for people with disabilities in the Iowa City area), Zion Lutheran Church or to Iowa City Hospice, c/o Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Box 167, Iowa City, IA 52244.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.