Byron Elroy Jacobson

Byron E. Jacobson June 14, 1952 – April 26, 2020 It is hard to believe that my dad has been gone for over a month. We miss him every single day and especially on his birthday this past weekend and this upcoming Father’s Day will be another hurdle. I want to thank each and every one of you for your outreach, prayers and numerous kind gestures. They are so appreciated and have provided great comfort to us during this very difficult time. We are grateful that we are finally able to celebrate Byron post the stay at home order and Covid 19 restrictions. Those arrangements are as follows: Mass of Christian Burial Celebrating the Life & Love of Byron E. Jacobson Wednesday July 1, 2020 at 700 pm Holy Family Catholic Church 919 NE 96th Street Kansas City, MO In order to try and keep everybody safe there will not be any visitation. There will also be an internment where my dad will be laid to rest and buried in Crosby, ND on Sunday 7/19 at 2pm at St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. All are welcome. Byron Elroy Jacobson, 67, peacefully passed away April 26, 2020 at his home in Kansas City, MO surrounded by his loving family. Byron was born June 14,1952 in Estevan Saskatchewan, Canada to Harold and Olga Jacobson from Crosby, ND. A graduate of Crosby High School class of 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, Glenda Hanson, on October 9, 1971. Byron lettered in track, cross country and golf and was the lead singer in a band called Tropical Ice Cube that was later renamed Byron. In 1974 he graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Byron began his professional career with Texaco, Inc. in Port Arthur, TX and later moved to Sacramento, CA where they lived shortly while working for Aerojet. Byron then dedicated the remainder of his career to Bayer Corporation which brought the family to Kansas City where he worked in crop science for a number of years before transferring to Germany. While living in Dusseldorf, the family traveled to numerous countries and took advantage of European life. Byron was transferred back to the United States in 1997. He retired from Bayer Animal Health in Shawnee Mission, KS in 2010 after a 30 year career with the company. Byron loved to play golf. He was a founding member at Staley Farms Country Club, where he got his first hole in one and spent countless rounds playing with the “good ol’ boys.” He had such a passion for the sport. Despite his perfectionist traits and while he loved to practice, there was no such thing as a bad round of golf. Upon retirement, not only was he able to play more golf but Glenda and Byron enjoyed numerous trips including Thailand, Cabo San Lucas (where he got his second hole in one), Colorado, Virginia, Arizona, California and Hawaii to visit his sisters and of course the annual trip home to North Dakota to visit the rest of the family. He was a loving father, grandparent, brother, uncle and friend. He was consistently present at countless track, cross country and swim meets, volleyball, soccer and even dance recitals for all of his children and grandchildren. Family gatherings were frequent and significant life events such as weddings, funerals, reunions etc. were a priority. He was a proud member of the Hi-Tech Smokers BBQ team. This team was recognized for competing in every American Royal BBQ competition since its inception. Byron also played the trumpet - even at his own wedding, as the best man in his brother-in-law’s wedding, during the holidays at church, at his own mother’s funeral and for the last time as the father of the bride. Once he retired his horn, he joined the bell choir at Holy Family where he was an active member. Byron was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Olga Jacobson; sister, Clarice; father and mother-in-law; Arden and Marie Hanson; sister-in-law, Gail Hanson Krise; brother-in-law, Wallace Rustad. Survivors include his loving and gorgeous wife of 48 years, Glenda; daughters, Angela Klappa, Heather (Brad) Marecek, and son, Erik Jacobson; grandchildren, Alex Klappa, Isla and Maia Marecek, and Kasey Jacobson; siblings Ronald (DiAnn) Jacobson, Dorene (Gary) Biesemeier, and Marlys Rustad; brother-in-law, Dan (Debi) Hanson, and numerous nieces and nephews that he held very close. Please help celebrate the life of Byron by sharing a memory or expressing your condolences to the family. Memorials may be sent to Holy Family Parish c/o Byron Jacobson at 919 NE 96th St. Kansas City, MO. 64155 or online https://holyfamily.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/WishList-TogetherWeGrowCapitalCampaign