Virginia Jacobson

CRYSTAL LAKE - Virginia (Ginger) L. Jacobson nee Braatz 81, longtime resident of Crystal Lake, passed away Wednesday December 16 at the JourneyCare, Care Center in Barrington. The family is so appreciative of the kindness and loving care of the in-home hospice services she received through JourneyCare and Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix.

She was born July 8, 1939 in Greenwood, WI, to Leonard Braatz and Ruth nee Bauman, of Burlington, WI. She married the love of her life Ronald Jacobson in Milwaukee on December 31, 1960.

She grew up on a dairy farm in Greenwood, WI, and attended Greenwood High School where she was valedictorian of the 1957 graduating class. She enjoyed a lifelong career as a registered nurse, graduating from the Evangelical Deaconess School of Nursing in Milwaukee in 1960. She enjoyed a career as a pediatric nurse at Deaconess hospital, a public health nurse for the city of Milwaukee, and as an OB-Gyn office nurse.
She was a talented seamstress and quilter, sewing countless Halloween costumes, figure skating costumes, wall hangings, and children’s clothing. She was involved with the Barrington Area Figure Skating Club volunteering her time designing skating costumes for the annual ice shows and the precision drill team. She was an active member of St Paul’s UCC Mary Circle and organized the crafting of many quilts for the annual Fall Fair raffle.  She designed and constructed a handmade quilt for each of her children and grandchildren that will forever be cherished.
She will be remembered as an excellent cook and baker who always had an extra seat at the table for friends.  She inspired her granddaughters’ love of baking. She will be forever missed at our annual mother - daughter - granddaughter tradition of Christmas cookie and pie making.
She and her husband, Ronald, enjoyed their retirement together, wintering in Phoenix and summering in Crystal Lake.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Ilma Braatz; her brother, Glenn Braatz; her sister, Sharon Riemer nee Braatz; and her stepbrothers, Joe and Ernie Enockson.

She is survived by Ronald, her devoted husband of nearly 60 years, her four children, Michael (Laura) Jacobson, Steven (Tiffanie) Jacobson, Jenifer (Jody) Keck all of Crystal Lake, James (Kelly) Jacobson of Phoenix; her sister Alice (Braatz) Gustafson of Phoenix; her stepbrother Bill Enockson; her brother-in-law Rev. Donald Riemer of Chandler, AZ; her grandchildren, Kera (Michael) Sanchez and Mikey Jacobson, Aiden and Breanne Keck, Clara and Emma Jacobson, Bryce and Drew Jacobson; and her first great-granddaughter Chloe Sanchez.
Ginger, you were dearly loved and we will always carry your memory in our hearts.

Funeral service and internment is private. A celebration of Ginger’s life to be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Lupus Foundation of America or the Arthritis Foundation.