James Jakonsen

JAMES F. JAKOBSEN

Iowa City

James F. Jakobsen of Iowa City died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, following a short illness.

James, called Jake by his friends, was born May 25, 1927, in Chicago, the son of Helen Andersen Jakobsen and Fredrik Jakobsen. His father had immigrated to America from Norway at the age of 18, while his mother was born in the United States, although of Norwegian parents. Jake was raised in Chicago and attended Taft High School, where he was elected president of the senior class. After his 18th birthday, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Finance Corps of the 5th Army, 1944-1945. Following his discharge, he worked at Niehoff Automotive Products in Chicago. He then attended Southwest Missouri State (SMS), majoring in mathematics and economics and receiving a B.S. degree in 1950. While at SMS, he met Jane Robinette. They married in 1951 and together attended graduate school at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Jake received an M.A. in mathematics 1952 and a Ph.D. in 1959. That year he was appointed as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Iowa, where he served in several roles, including department associate chairman. In 1968, Jake was appointed assistant dean for academic affairs in the graduate school. At the time of his retirement in 1998, he was senior associate dean for administrative affairs.

His responsibilities in the Graduate College included serving as liaison to the Graduate Student Senate, which honored his longstanding commitment to graduate student education by renaming their graduate forum the James F. Jakobsen Graduate Forum. In his time as dean, Jake was also dedicated to recruiting under-represented minorities, women and international students. He served a number of years as director of the Summer Research Opportunity Program at Iowa. He played an instrumental role in the development of several awards and fellowships to provide opportunities to graduate students. He was a member of the American Mathematics Society and the Mathematics Association of America.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert; and his sister, Mary Ann.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jane; son, Thomas; daughter, Janet; and grandchildren, Emily and Craig.

A one-hour visitation will precede the service beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, where he was a longtime member.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the University of Iowa Foundation in support of the Graduate College, the Department of Mathematics or St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

Online condolences can be shared with Jake's family through the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.