Jean Marie Jacobson, 83, of Owatonna, MN, died peacefully on July 1st, 2013, at Waseca Medical Center. Jean, born on December 1, 1929, was the third of seven children born to Gotfred and Henrietta (Rasmussen) Peterson. The family farmed near Britton, South Dakota, where Jean attended school, graduating in 1950. After high school, she attended Northern Teacher''s College in Aberdeen and began her life-long legacy of teaching others. While attending a summer conference at Northern, she met her husband, Alvin, a Wisconsin native, and they married in 1956. Jean and Al supported each other for many years, through Al''s education at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and served congregations in California, South Dakota, and northern Illinois. During these years, they raised four children and Jean kept busy honing her servant''s heart by being involved in church activities, leading Bible studies, teaching, and practicing the art of homemaking through baking bread every Friday, growing and canning vegetables and surrounding her family with love. The Scandinavian treat, Swedish meatballs, and lefse she made were legendary in her family. Jean finished her bachelor''s degree in education at the University of South Dakota-Vermillion while her children were in school, and spent many years helping care for her elderly parents. When Al died suddenly in 1982, Jean continued her work as the Library Director at Clinton Public Library in Clinton, WI until 1991. She then moved to Fargo, ND until 1995 and to Valparaiso, IN. In both of these places, she continued her involvement in church activities, volunteering, and traveling. Reading was one of Jean''s passions and she led many book clubs in various locations, something she continued when she moved to Owatonna in 2003. She loved being near her grandchildren and attending their various school and sporting events. Because of her passion for life long learning, Jean loved to teach people new things. Many people knew Jean as a teacher of bridge and mah jong, an ancient Chinese game. Jean also continued her lay ministry work in Owatonna, where she attended Trinity Lutheran Church where she led many, many Bible studies and organized the church library. Jean touched so many lives everywhere she went. In addition to her four loving children, Paul (Tracy) Jacobson of Anchorage, AK; Carol (Tom) Burke of South Beloit, IL, John (Jill) Jacobson of Jacksonville, FL, and Kristin (Terry) Glynn of Owatonna, MN, and fifteen grandchildren: Jessica and Chelsea Jacobson, Alyssa, Michael, Peter, John, Thomas, Mary-Clare, Patrick, and Charlie Burke; Megan and Morgan Jacobson and Kellen, Gavin, and Spencer Glynn, she is survived by four siblings: Herman (Arlene) Peterson; Dale (Donna) Peterson, Elaine Fragodt, and Leo (Nancy) Peterson; sister-in-law Sharon (Rolland K.) Wilson of Germantown WI, several nephews and nieces and many dear friends. Her loving husband, Al, preceded her in death as well as her parents and brother, Elwood, and sister, Inez. She also joins other relatives and friends in heaven. A celebration of her life will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church on Wednesday, July 3rd with a visitation at 1 p.m. and funeral services at 2 p.m., presided over by Pastor Julie Malone, another dear friend of Jean''s. A light luncheon will be served following the service at Trinity. Burial will be at her family plot near Clinton, Wisconsin on Friday, July 5th at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church. Visitation: 07/03/2013 13:00 07/03/2013 14:00 Service: 07/03/2013 14:00