Obituary - Josephine "Jo" Komarek Jacobson

Josephine "Jo" Komarek Jacobson, 72, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2021, in her residential home due to natural causes.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Eagles Club in Lewistown, MT, on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Jo's wishes were to be cremated so there will be a private family spreading of ashes at a later date.

Jo was born in Lewistown, MT, on May 2, 1949, to Joe and Jessie (Brown) Komarek. She was raised on the family ranch and graduated from Roy High School in 1967. She went on to graduate from business school in Billings.

In 1969, she married Jim Henderson and together had two children Jay and JoLynn. Jo enjoyed many years on the farm in Zurich, MT, raising her children, and having late-night card parties, and girl time with some of her closest neighbors. Although Jo and Jim later divorced, they reconnected years later and grew their friendship over the love of their three grandchildren.

In June of 2000, Jo married Basil Jacobson. She and Basil enjoyed spending time with their conjoined families and having Tuesday night dinners at Borries. Jo often hosted both sides of the family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was the glue that melded the two families together and will be greatly missed by them all.

When Jo moved to Great Falls, MT, she got a job managing the Magic Manor Apartments, where she did everything from renting out the apartments to learning how to fix the boiler on her own. She did it all.

Jo later became very active in the Great Falls community when she joined the Sunrise Lions Club. In 1998, she was made the first woman president for the Great Falls Lions Club. While being the president, she enjoyed working with the Four Seasons Arena to organize ticket taking and ushering for many events.

Jo was a very talented woman. She did everything from playing music to crocheting blankets and dolls. She learned to sew at an early age and made almost everything she wore. Her beadwork was another one of her talents. Jo crocheted many outfits for herself, and blankets for each of her children and grandchildren.

Jo had a strong love and talent for music. She taught herself to play the bass guitar because the band didn't need a piano player, and she wanted to be in the band Clear Sky with Cindy, Bill Pearce, and Jim. Over the years, she played for many weddings and even opened for some top bands a time or two.

In her later years, Jo loved watching Duster, her beloved dog, and her "babies," the neighborhood squirrels, play in the back yard. Helping Basil work on the old cars he had acquired and building a barn, as she called it, kept her busy. She loved her flowers and small garden she shared with the baby bunnies.

Her talents really were something to be admired. She was an amazing woman and will be greatly missed.

Jo is survived by her loving husband, Basil Jacobson; sister, Rita Lovejoy; children, JoLynn Scarpholt (Bryon Bevis), Jay and Sue Henderson, Matt and Chris Jacobson, Doug and Amanda Jacobson, Jana and Marc Dorfman; grandchildren Brianna and Cody Scarpholt, Colten Henderson, Gavin and Meghan Jacobson, Logan Jacobson, Eva and Jack Dorfman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe "Speed" and Jessie Komarek; brother, Dean Komarek; nephew Charles Weasa; and granddaughter Mariah Henderson.

Condolences for the family may be shared online at http://www.SchniderFuneralHome.com .