Orpha A. Jacobson

Orpha Abbagail Kline West Jacobson, age 106, of Lansing, died February 17, 2013 surrounded by her loving friends Amy Jacobson and Jayne Gietzen.  Born June 7, 1906 to parents Nicholas and Abbagail Kline in Cheboygan, Michigan.

She loved to sing and tell stories; she was devoted to her family.  Orpha attended Michigan Agricultural College and graduated from Ypsilanti College in 1926 with her teaching certificate.  Later in life she achieved her Master’s in Elementary Education, completing her career in Wyandotte, Michigan.  In later years, Orpha was a volunteer at Ingham Regional Hospital.

She was preceded in death by first husband Gordon West, second husband Carlton Jacobson, and three brothers.  Survivors include sister-in-law Gertrude Kline, stepson Dean (Theresa) Jacobson, their children and grandchildren, nieces Shirley (Jack) Neal, Patsy Constantine, Debbie (David) Koch, Kathy Carr, Karla (Timothy S) Miller, Jane Timberlake, Marilyn (Pat) Rider and Jan Krouskup, nephews Ken Kline, Keith (Charle) Kline, Kevin (Cindy) Kline, Gary Kline, Harold Jacobson and many more great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. with Fr. Bill Lugger officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday for one hour prior to the funeral.  Interment will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery in Cheboygan, Michigan.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the VFW Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, Michigan or the St. Vincent’s Home for Children in Lansing, Michigan.

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8 Messages to “Orpha A. Jacobson

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Amy Jo Jacobson
February 18, 2013 at 8:46 am

My dearest Aunt Orpha, thank you for everything you have give me. Your songs, your stories, your love and my extended family. I am blessed to have had these eight wonderful years to spend with you. I will miss you every day.

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Dave Rider
February 18, 2013 at 1:21 pm

Thank you for so many happy memories – and all of them bring a smile to my face. You’ve been a bright spot ever since welcoming you to the family when you married Uncle Carlton. I’ll never forget your comment about having a car without power steering so you could get more exercies and the time you offered to help the guy put the bag of trash up on the truck if it was too heavy for him! My life has been blessed by you in so many ways. I’m so thankful for my visit with you last week. I’m comforted to know that you are now free from your physical constraints that have surrounded you these last years. ‘Till we meet again in our Savior’s presence,
Dave

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Jayne and Mark Gietzen
February 18, 2013 at 2:24 pm

To our friend Orpha, Thank you for our wonderful friendship. We sure had a lot of great times sharing stories and talking. You were an amazing person and we will remember you always. Thanks for being a part of our family.
You were truly a “Good Gurn.”

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Kathleen Carr
February 18, 2013 at 4:03 pm

I have many treasured memories in my heart from early childhood to the present. I am so happy you got to enjoy Alaska in 1986 and see what my World is like. I’ll see you in Heaven when it’s my time.
All my love to you!

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Deb Kline Koch
February 19, 2013 at 9:50 am

Aunt Orpha .. You have so enriched my life! Some of my earliest memories involve spending time with you and you were there just about every year as I grew to adulthood. Because of your being my family’s historian, I know who I am and where I came from. I treasure each and every memory of you. I love you.

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Kenneth Kline Jr
February 21, 2013 at 11:35 am

I have many treasured memories also. The cottage on lake Huron, Christmas eve’s in downtown Detroit and the apartment in Detroit with the very long hallway (it was for a young kid in the early 50’s). It has been great having you as my aunt for these 64 years. I learned so much from you Orsa. I always thought you would outlive me, especially after you were in your hundreds.
Until we meet again, with Kenny, Gerard and George, I will always love you.

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Judy Christie - TCOA
February 23, 2013 at 6:45 am

It was my pleasure to know you these past two years. I enjoyed your witty stories and singing your tunes. I am glad that you were able to continue to stay in your home with Amy Jo and Cadberry. You will be missed and I just have to say it, “See you later, Aunt Orpha”.

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Jane Timberlake
February 23, 2013 at 1:39 pm

Aunt Orpha, I so miss you and our wonderful, long conversations. What a treasure, to be able to talk frequently with the very first person in my family to see me when I was born, the person who knew my mother and her family from when she was 14 and you 16, and who married her brother, and who remained her dear friend throughout her life. You and I shared many so many happy memories of summertime at the cottage when I was a child, and interesting stories from your life as a child and as a young woman who roomed with my mother in college. Thank you, thank you for being in my life!

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