Eileen Alvina Jacobson

Eileen Alvina Nelson Jacobson was born March 11, 1931 to Henry E. and Alvina Nelson in La Grande Township. She was baptized as an infant and confirmed at Svea (Calvary) Lutheran Church. Eileen graduated from Alexandria High School in 1948. She was first granted a teaching certificate after having completed a course at the Glenwood Teacher Training Department in 1949-1950. Due to the teacher shortage following the war, she taught in a rural one-room school having grades 1-8 for two years. Studying summers, she gained her associates degree to teach in public schools. Before earning her BS degree in elementary education from St. Cloud Teachers College in 1955, she taught in Olivia, MN and attended Lutheran Bible Institute.

Eileen heeded the Lord’s calling on her life to become a missionary at age 17 when she inquired of the Augustana Board of Foreign Missions about how she should proceed with training. She prayed for many years that she might be a representative of Christ and her church on the mission field. Lovingly supported by Calvary, Eileen was commissioned in 1955 as an educational missionary to serve Tanganyika, Africa (later to become Tanzania). When arriving in Africa, Eileen began her study of Swahili which she could still speak fluently til her death. In 1956, she taught at Ruruma Girls School. From 1956 through 1968, she served at Kinampanda Teachers College. Eileen taught the missionary children at Kiomboi during her final year in Tanzania. Eileen spent her furloughs doing graduate study at the University of Minnesota in education and represented the Mission Board sharing her experiences in various local churches. Upon her return, Eileen continued her career in the Alexandria and Evansville School Districts as a remedial reading teacher.

On August 9, 1975 Eileen was united in marriage to Charles D. Jacobson at Calvary in Alexandria. The couple lived in Mora, MN where they lived out their faith together at Grace Lutheran Church. She volunteered with the Mora Literacy Project tutoring Vietnamese refugees and helping them obtain their citizenship.

To be closer to her sister and family, Eileen and Charles moved back to Alexandria in 1995 where they spent the remainder of their days. They enjoyed travelling and made frequent trips to visit grand nephews and nieces. They served with the Gideons, Operation Bootstrap Arica’s local initiative, and Calvary’s Bible study and prayer groups. Eileen will be remembered as a mighty prayer warrior. Her greatest joy in life was knowing, serving, and sharing Jesus with others. She passed into the loving arms of her Savior on April 6, 2026.

Eileen is preceded in death by her loving husband Charles, her parents, her brother Myron Nelson, her sister Lois and brother-in-law Floyd Johnson. She truly cherished 33 cousins who grew up with her and supported her throughout the years. She will be dearly missed by her nieces Cheryl (James) Mathesz of Northampton, PA and Julie (Daniel) Miller of Alexandria; her grand nieces and nephews, Michael and James Mathesz, JeAnna Toenies, and Bethany, Aleah, Jaelyn, and Jakin Miller; and her great-grand nieces and nephews, Jeremy, Bradley and Kayley Mathesz.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home. Visitation will continue on Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10:00 - 11:00 AM with a Funeral Service at 11:00 AM at Calvary Lutheran Church with burial at Evergreen Cemetery.