David Rees Jacobsen

David Rees Jacobsen left his mortal life doing what he loved most - working on his farm on December 28, 2022. We know his sweet wife, Rae, brought him home that morning, so they could celebrate her birthday together in Heaven. Dave was born on October 16, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Louise Christensen Jacobsen and Neldon R. Jacobsen. He grew up in Sugarhouse with his brother, Gail, his sister, Sharon, and his brother, Brent. He graduated from South High School and then attended Utah State University where he played football. Dave attended the Richard's Ward in Sugarhouse where he met his childhood sweetheart, Rae McClellan, in primary. He and Rae were married December 3, 1954, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together they raised five children: David Jeffery, Lisa Hacking (Mitch), John (Nancy Lopez), Erin Mayberry (Shane), and Amy Workman (Lance). They lived in Salt Lake City, then moved to Coalville for a short time, and finally settled their family in Vernal in 1969. Dave supported his family as brick mason until he joined the Utah Highway Patrol in 1969. He was a dedicated and decorated trooper who lived to serve and help others. He served many years as a sergeant and worked tirelessly to protect our Vernal community and the state of Utah. Many Basin residents have memories of Radar Dave's time as a trooper. He had the loudest whistle, and if you drove passed his home on 5th South too fast, you would hear that loud whistle to slow down. Upon his beloved Rae's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, Dave retired early to care for her. Rae was given a miraculous recovery, and he returned to the patrol. However, after a short time again as a trooper, he felt the call to live his true dream. Dave's life-long dream was to be a farmer, so they moved to their home in Jensen. He and Rae spent over twenty years living and working on their beautiful farm with the view of Split Mountain in the distance. Dave and Rae had a great love for their Jensen community, ward, friends, and neighbors. We are especially grateful to those special neighbors who looked after him after the death of his wife. Often, we received calls of him doing risky tasks around his farm, like climbing a ladder with a leaf blower to clean leaves off his roof. We knew getting after him was of no use because he did things his way. He always said he would be happier to go out working and not sick in a bed, and that is exactly how he went. He went out working with his gloves and boots on. Dave had a great love for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He and Rae enjoyed traveling in their motorhome to see wildlife and amazing scenery. He loved to cowboy and ride his horses, Buddy and Winnie, but his greatest peace was working to maintain perfection in his yard and on his farm. Dave was often seen sitting on his bench at the barn watching the sunset surrounded by his green fields. Dave is survived by his children: Jeff, Erin, and Amy. "Grandpa Jake" leaves his legacy with 21 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. He is also remembered by his brother, Gail Jacobsen (Pauline), sister, Sharon Persch (CA), his sister-in-law, Karen Jacobsen. He is preceded in death by his wife, Rae, his son, John, his daughter, Lisa, and his brother, Brent Jacobsen (Karen). Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 1:00PM at the Jensen LDS Chapel (8775 East 6000 South). A visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday evening from 6-8PM at the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home and Wednesday 11:45-12:45PM at the Church. Interment will be in the Jensen Cemetery.

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