(September 28, 1921 – January 23, 2015)
Melvin Leaker Jacobsen passed away Friday, January 23, 2015, at the age of 93. He was born September 28, 1921, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Elias and Florence Leaker Jacobsen. He married Frieda Naillon on June 15, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple.
He was the fifth of six children, and his father passed away when he was 10 years old. He was raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from West High School. After high school he went to work at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, and enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 21 in the midst of WWII. While enlisted he was trained and served as a radio repairman and aircraft inspector. He was an excellent rifleman and received many awards for his sharp shooting and rifle handling.
After the war ended he continued to work at Hill Air Force base working the majority of his career as a quality control inspector. He liked to visit a local ice cream parlor with his brother, Frank, and that was where he met his sweetheart Frieda. He said she was the best at making ice cream sundaes. Mel and Frieda are the parents of five children. They have nine grandchildren, four step grandchildren, seven great grandchildren with one on the way.
Melvin has one hobby and passion and that was baseball. While he loved all sports, baseball had his heart. He coached for many years while living in Layton, Utah. He also enjoyed score keeping for Sandy City Recreation after retiring from the Air Force Base. He also enjoyed 20 years of church service in the Bishop’s Storehouse. His favorite pastime was playing card games on the computer.
Melvin is survived by his wife and four children; Shawna Egbert (Brent) of Las Vegas, Myron of Sandy, Dena Johnson (Jerry) of Riverton and Kent (Marilyn) of St. George.
He is preceded in death by an infant son, Ronald, his parents, and his siblings: Nina, Harold, Ruth, Dan and Frank.
Funeral Services
- Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 29 at noon at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George.
- A viewing will be Thursday, from 10-11:30 a.m. prior to services at the mortuary.
- A graveside service and interment will take place on Friday, Jan. 30 at noon at Utah Veteran’s Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Rd, Bluffdale, Utah.
Family and friends are invited to sign his guest book at the Spilsbury Mortuary website and obtain information to access a live webcast for those unable to attend the service.
The family would like to thank the Journey of Hope Hospice, especially his nurse, Leslie, and the Southern Utah Veterans Home for making his last few days comfortable.