Wallace Vernon Jacobson

Wallace Vernon Jacobson, 92, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away in the early morning hours on January 7, 2022, at the VA Care Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, after about 10 years of struggling with Alzheimer’s. He was born on June 23 1929 in South Ashley, near Vernal Utah. He was the third of six children of Vernon and Wanda Perry Jacobson. As a young boy, His curly auburn hair and freckles made him easily recognizable. Wally’s father died one month before his 5th birthday during the great depression. His mother worked tirelessly to provide for the children on the Vernal ranch but it became insurmountable. They moved to Meeker Colorado where the entire family could work at numerous odd jobs. Some of Wally’s earliest memories included his mother butchering and preparing roasting hens for numerous customers. In Meeker, Wanda met and married Marvin Henard and soon moved the family to Salt Lake City. Marv became a devoted father to Wally and his siblings. Wally always reminisced that the move to SLC was the greatest gift his mom could give the family. Wally graduated from West High School.

At a young age, Wally contracted an ear infection that left him deaf in his left ear. He adapted to this impairment and became a good listener, learning and remembering names after only one hearing.

Wally married the love of his life, Margene Nelson in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 18, 1950. Though they would separate years later, she was always on his mind, especially during the later years when he would pine to be with her.

Shortly after his marriage, Wally was drafted to the army during the Korean War. After basic training in the heat of California, his orders sent him north to the cold of Alaska. Margene soon joined him and they lived in a one room cabin on base, near Fairbanks. Wally served in many capacities in the military, one of which would introduce him to his life’s work as a builder. He was recognized as one whom his commander could count on and asked to help build a base chapel. It was quite an adventure living in Alaska with the frigid cold and rustic environment. They had many sweet and impactful memories there, including a harrowing ambulance ride in January, to deliver their first son.

Wally valued the importance of hard work and applied himself to many jobs in his life including: Paper boy, Cooper, Logger, Soldier, Carpenter, Builder/Developer, Remodeler, Truss and cabinet manufacturer and Storage facility owner. He was a “jack of all trades” and could build or fix anything.

His life’s vocation was to build, whether it was homes, enterprises or people. He was a Entrepreneur creating and owning Wally Jacobson, Inc., Galaxy Homes, Sunset Homes and Empire West. He was named Utah Builder of the year in 1975. He built over 1000 homes along the Wasatch front and supplied trusses and cabinets to the Intermountain area. He was very involved in the Home Builder’s Association Locally and nationally-serving as Salt Lake and Utah President and as a National Director. He was recognized for his contributions to the building profession as national director of the apprenticeship program.

Besides work, He loved hunting and fishing, twice traveling far north to the Great Slave Lake in Canada and catching a 40lb lake trout. Spending time with family and friends were favorite pastimes.

He is survived by his wife, Margene, four children, Tim (Bonnie), Mark (Jeannie), Cindy Roper (Kevin), and Matthew (Thom) as well as 14 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, siblings, grandson Trace Roper, great grandson Tate Jacobson and son-in law Thom.

Special thanks to Tim and Bonnie Jacobson for their loving care over four years that Wally lived with them. Great thanks to all the wonderful nurses and staff at The William Chistophersen Veteran’s Home for their loving care of Wally this last year.

Funeral Services:
Mesa Park Ward 1970 E. Viscounti Drive, Sandy Utah
Saturday January 15, 2022
Viewing 10 A.M. Funeral 11 A.M.

Internment:
Larkin Sunset Gardens
1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy, Utah

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