Michelle Marie Jacobson, 51

Michelle Marie Jacobson, age 51 of Minneapolis, peacefully left this world on Sunday November 27th at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. 

 Michelle was born September 29, 1971, at Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague MN, to Ethel (Skluzacek) and Theodore “Butch” Jacobson.  After attending grade school at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School, she graduated at the top of her class in 1990 from New Prague Senior High School.  In her youth Michelle was an active member of the Helping Hands 4-H club and took great pride in her club & projects, representing Minnesota 4-H on a local, state and national level.  In high school Michelle also participated in many clubs, activities and sports, including national honor society, tennis and being selected as a national merit scholarship finalist.

 Following high school Michelle’s passion for learning led her down the path of an Ivy League education at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.  An avid and impassioned reader, Michelle channeled her fervent love for literature into degrees in English and German, ultimately graduating cum laude in 1994, and being a proud Mount Holyoke alumna to her death.  She continued to attend reunions and participate in Mount Holyoke traditions such as the “Laurel Parade”.

 With a need to do something greater in life, and a desire to help people, Michelle continued her education at the University of Minnesota Law School, ultimately graduating cum laude, with a Juris Doctorate, in May of 1997.

 Channeling that need to serve the greater good led her to the Minneapolis City Attorney’s office.  She joined the attorney’s office in 1998 as a criminal prosecutor, serving in a broad number of capacities.  In 2003 she was asked to take a greater role, suitable for the passions that made her a great person.  It was at this time that she was invited to serve as a liaison for the family violence unit of the Minneapolis police department.  Michelle helped the Minneapolis Police Department establish protocols, systems and processes for the handling of domestic violence cases.

The work she did on domestic violence significantly improved the city’s ability to track, and ultimately prosecute, cases involving domestic violence, improving, and saving, the lives of countless women and children.  For this work, Michelle ultimately received the Shelia Wellstone “Gold Watch” award in 2007, which is an award for “outstanding individuals who have made a permanent and significant improvement in the criminal justice system” related to domestic violence. 

 Michelle continued her work at the city for 20+ years.  On top of her work at the city, Michelle also sought to make the future of law better, serving as adjunct professor at both the University of Minnesota and the William Mitchell College of Law.  While working for the city, and as an adjunct professor, Michelle also proudly worked at Kohl’s department store in Burnsville for nearly 20 years.

 Through the decades of learning, leading and making the world a better place, Michelle also established a robust network of friends from each stop listed above.  It was with this group of friends that Michelle was truly able to love and be loved.  Michelle lived for hanging out with her friends.  Whether it be traveling to exotic locations across the globe, attending concerts, Twins games, Golden Gophers women’s basketball, or just having a great time hanging out as a group.  She was truly blessed to have all her friends in her life.

 Above all though, Michelle LOVED her nieces Claire and Nora.  Ever the proud aunt, Michelle loved spending time with them, taking them places and watching their activities when she was able.  Her love for them was evident to the end, as her last words were spent expressing how proud she was of them.

 Michelle is survived by her sister Stephanie Jacobson-Landon, and Stephanie’s partners Heather Baker and Erika Apicella, of Provincetown, MA.  Brother Ted (Tina) Jacobson, as well as nieces Claire and Nora, of New Prague, MN.  Michelle also leaves behind her significant other Steve Henningsen of Brooklyn Center, MN.  Michelle is preceded in death by her parents Theodore (1976) and Ethel (2013) Jacobson, as well as sister-in-law Tammy Jacobson-Landon (2019). 

 No service is being planned at this time.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to the “Greater Minneapolis Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous”.   https://aaminneapolis.org/contribute/  bruzekfuneralhome.com

Category:

Publication:

Suel Printing Company

Copyright © Suel Printing Company
All Rights Reserved
200 Main St E
New Prague, MN 56071

Phone: 952-758-4435
Fax: 952-758-4135

Latest articles

Thu, 03/28/2024 - 11:40am
Thu, 03/28/2024 - 11:33am
Thu, 03/28/2024 - 10:00am
Tue, 03/26/2024 - 4:12pm

If you would like to receive a FREE digital edition with a paid print subscription please call 952-758-4435.