William M. Jacobsen
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WILLIAM M. 'BILL'
JACOBSEN, 50 ROCKFORD - William M. "Bill" Jacobsen, 50, of Rockford
died at 11:17 p.m. Thursday, June 21, 2007, in his
residence. Born Nov. 25, 1956, in Rockford, the son of Martin and
Elizabeth (Chesbrough) Jacobsen. Lifetime Rockford area resident.
Growing up on the Rock River, Bill was like a Samuel L. Clemens .
Therefore Bill was an adventurer, but was also a multi-talented man.
Involved in scouting throughout his youth he accompanied his father,
a troop leader, on camping trips. Bill loved his travels and one of
his fondest memories was his back-packing trip through Mexico
and Central America, which he prepared for over a two year period by
learning Spanish, and then meeting his father at the Panama Canal
Zone where they did some exploring in Panama Canal Zone before
flying home. His next adventure was in the wilds of Alberta ,
Canada, where he encountered a grizzly bear and also played a small
role in a wilderness movie. He was a fearless inquisitive explorer,
and later enjoyed his landscaping. His proudest recent
accomplishment was helping design, do the planting and maintaining
of the award winning Spring Creek Meadows. He was described as a
meticulous workman in paint, stone, and landscaping, as well as home
remodeling and repair. He was well known and loved throughout the
community as always willing to help, and a true nature lover and
protector.
Survivors include his mother, Elizabeth Chesbrough Jacobsen of Loves Park; brother, Barry D. Jacobsen of Norfolk, Va.; nieces, Ashley and Amanda Jacobsen; former sister-in-law, Pamela Jacobsen all of Pleasant Praire, Wis..; uncle, Bjarne (Mary Rita) Jacobsen of Belvidere ; aunts, Ruth Jacobsen of Rockford, Barbara (Richard) Tamburino of Suffolk, Va. .; and numerous cousins and their spouses and children. Predeceased by his father; grandparents, William and Annette Chesbrough and Bernt and Severina Jacobsen; uncles, John and Olaf Jacobsen; and aunt, Gudrun Schaekel. Service at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, in Delehanty Funeral Home Ltd., 401 River Lane , Loves Park, with visitation from 11:30 a.m. to service time; the Rev. Timothy W. Bukowski will officiate. Burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Beloit Wis. . Memorial to be established on the James Sheldon property where he had worked on the landscaping. He was attending the Sheldon's 50th Wedding anniversary. The photo was taken by James Bailey in June of 2004. Jim writes, "The party had begun in other parts of the yard, but as usual, Bill was taking a moment to enjoy nature. We all will miss him very much." That was before the first attack of September of 2004, that broke his ribs, and jaw. Bill's creativity and general manner and personality was boosted by the caring attention and love that poured out to him from so many people. There was an improvement in his self confidence that was noticeable. It took a while to recover from such extreme injuries. As he was well along with his recovery we were having a discussion and I told him. "Bill, usually people that have such an extreme head trauma, seem dulled, but you seem more vibrant and intelligent." He laughed and asked, "Do you really think so." I assured him I wasn't kidding and I wasn't.
Last Updated: 6:10 PM Jun 22, 2007
"It's just an unbelievable tragedy, it's a tremendous loss it's a loss to the community a loss to the family," says Bruce Jacobsen, Bill's cousin.
Jacobsen grew up in Loves Park and has spent the second half of his life at 638 Whitman. His family says he often chased away drug dealers and even offered to help those in need.
"People would panhandle from him and he'd offer to give them a job," Jacobsen says.
Relatives say Jacobsen was attacked and robbed three years ago, however he never complained even to those that saw him everyday.
"He was in bad shape had a broken jaw and I only heard about it from his mom," says neighbor Laura Figueroa.
An adventure seeker in his youth, Jacobsen chose to stay on Whitman Street even when others left due to a spike in drug activity.
"He was hanging in there trying to be a good person and help make it be a good neighborhood like an obligation to some of the neighbors who were doing the same thing and (he) just didn't make it," Jacobsen says.
Police are still searching for a suspect. If you know anything about this murder please call Crimestoppers.
Published: June 29,
2007
COLUMNIST: Judy Emerson
Slaying victim had green thumb worthy of awards
It’s
been a week since William “Billy” Jacobsen
tended his beloved Spring Creek Meadows, the
prize-winning landscaping masterpiece at the
corner of Spring Creek and Reid Farm roads.
Friends believe Jacobsen worked into the evening
June 20 on the grounds around the building that
houses Guyer & Enichen, PG Architecture
Design/Build and Market Insurance before going
to his house in the 600 block of Whitman Street.
He lived in a neighborhood that has more than
its fair share of challenges with violent crime.
About two years ago, Jacobsen was robbed
and badly beaten at his home. During his long
recuperation, friends and family urged him to
move, but he wouldn’t. Cousin Bruce Jacobsen
said Billy had become close with some of his
neighbors and was committed to improving the
challenged area.
Sometime
after he got home June 20, Billy Jacobsen was
slain. At the request of family members, police
did a welfare check at the house June 21 and
found Jacobsen’s badly beaten body in the
basement. He was buried Wednesday. The
investigation is ongoing.
Bruce Jacobsen and others look at 2601 Reid Farm
Road as a living memorial to Billy, who helped
design the landscaping and was the head
groundskeeper. The pond and the perfect lawn
dotted with huge bundles of swaying pampas grass
are a work of art come to life.
“I went out there with my parents and brothers
and sisters to look at it Last night,” Bruce
Jacobson said Thursday. “It’s been over a week
since he tended it, and nature is taking control
of it again. I said, ‘We have to go see it now
because soon it will be under somebody else’s
care, and it will be different.’”
Friends who contacted me wanted the
public to know that he was not the “loner” he
was portrayed to be in the story detailing his
killing. They do not want him to be remembered
simply as a single guy who kept odd hours and
lived by himself in a dangerous neighborhood.
The odd hours had a lot to do with his work as a
groundskeeper and painter, they said.
“Billy had many, many friends,” said Sue
Gustafson, an art teacher at Lutheran High
School and a friend of Jacobsen for 25 years.
“He was always selfless and kind and helpful. He
loved being with people.”
Calling from France, where she was traveling
with husband Rod Gustafson of PG Architecture
Design/Build, Sue spoke of a man who was
well-read, had a great sense of humor, loved
plants and animals of all kinds. She and others
described Jacobsen as gentle, artistic and
meticulous about his work.
Ruth Miller, director of Rockford Park
District’s City of Gardens program, said the
America in Bloom judges will tour the property
next month because it represents the perfect
blend of architecture and nature. Spring Creek
Meadows has won numerous landscaping awards.
Sen. Dave Syverson is part-owner of the property
and a friend of Jacobsen. He said a permanent
memorial will be established to Jacobsen at the
Meadows.
“Anyone who knew Bill knew he was a soft-spoken
person who would do anything to help anybody,”
Syverson said. “For anyone to hurt a person like
that breaks my heart.”
Syverson said he wishes he had worked harder to
convince Jacobsen to move after he was so badly
beaten two years ago. “But he said this was his
neighborhood and he hoped that it could be
turned around. He chose to stay to try to make
it better, and it cost him his life.”