Jean Jacobsen Goldschmidt

Age 94, of Lexington, Kentucky, formerly of East Lansing, Michigan, passed away on April 3, 2023.

Jean was the daughter of the late Annie and Ivan Jacobsen, born on November 11, 1928, in Hamburg, Germany. As Jewish life in Hamburg became more difficult, Jean and her parents followed her brothers Henry and Peter, to the United States in 1938. Jean graduated from George Washington High School in San Francisco in 1946, and received a bachelor’s degree in Education from San Francisco State University in 1949. Jean married Carl Goldschmidt in 1950 and they lived together in San Francisco, East Lansing, Pittsburgh, Scottsdale, and Lexington. They were married for 65 years, until Carl’s death in 2015.

Jean had two successful careers during her life. While in San Francisco she started working with children with special needs in both school and home settings. She continued this fulfilling work when the family moved to East Lansing in 1956. At a time when women working outside the home was still frowned upon, Jean maintained her career and found loving after-school caretakers for their children. Jean pivoted to a new career as an Academic Advisor for pre-med students at Michigan State University. She truly enjoyed helping students mapping out their futures as they chose medicine as a profession.

Jean and Carl were enthusiastic global travelers, and also spent a year-long sabbatical in Tel Aviv, Israel. They were long-time supporters of the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra as well as arts and cultural programs at MSU. Carl and Jean also held numerous leadership positions at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in East Lansing, and were active members of the Lansing Jewish community.

After retiring in Scottsdale, Jean and Carl relocated to Lexington to be near family. Jean is survived by her four children: Carol (Ron) Hustedde of Lexington, Linda (Jim) Marshall of Safety Harbor, Florida, David (Jamie) Goldschmidt of Waterford, Michigan, and Alisa Goldschmidt of Louisville, Colorado. She was a devoted grandmother to Christopher Marshall (Clairanne), Adrian Marshall, Michael Hustedde, Anna Goldschmidt and Emma Goldschmidt, and a loving aunt to Susan Wilson and Lynn Katsumoto.

A graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023, at Evergreen Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, at www.mazon.org

Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.