Calvin Durward Jacobsen

Calvin Durward Jacobsen, 94, of Isanti passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025.

Durward was born on June 10th, 1930, in Rosebud Township in Polk County, Minnesota, to Florence and Jacob Jacobsen, their third of six children. When he was about 13 years old, he moved to Fosston, MN to live with his grandmother and additional relatives where he helped on the family farm and attended the local high school. The farm is where his love of horses began.

Durward graduated from Fosston High School in Fosston, MN in 1949. After graduating he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Upon his return home he moved to Minneapolis and began working for Archer Daniels. On a visit home to Fosston is where he met Shirley Stone who he would marry on October 23rd, 1954. After they married, they purchased 40 acres with a farmhouse and a barn in Ham Lake, MN. This is where his horse dreams began and would span over the next seventy years. With Shirley by his side, they owned hundreds of horses over the years, everything from bays to paints, Appaloosas to Quarter Horses, but never an Arabian. If you know, you know. Through the years they also raised cattle, chickens, 3 busy children and had a hand in shaping their 5 grandchildren.

In 1966 Durward and Shirley would build a new house and a new barn. As a family we would laugh years later because the barn was built before the house; you always knew what was most important! With the new barn complete Durward set off to fill the barn, horse sales and shows were a constant for the family as well as reading pedigrees and understanding the bloodlines of the best performance horses. Together with Shirley, Durward used that knowledge to acquire well-bred Quarter Horses with excellent confirmation. Much later in life it was overheard at a horse sale “you see that man over there, he won’t buy a horse with a hair out of place, he knows confirmation when he sees it” referring to Durward and his eye for a well put together horse. Durward and Shirley would pass this knowledge and talent down to the next 3 generations. They never missed an opportunity to attend a horse show, roping or rodeo that their children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren were competing at.

It was not just horses that kept Durward busy. After leaving Archer Daniels he took a job at Business Furniture where he would work until his retirement. In 1994, the decision was made to sell the home in Ham Lake and move to Isanti where they currently reside. While the farm was a bit smaller it did not stop Durward from having his horses in the pasture until just this past fall.

Durward enjoyed many other hobbies as well. In his early years he was a pilot and owned his own plane where he and his brother-in-law shared flying duties. It was often said one had to take off while the other oversaw the landing. He also was an avid hunter throughout his life, which took him on many adventures across the country. Whether it was salmon fishing in Alaska, hunting for mule deer in Wyoming or trying to beat his grandsons in poker while deer hunting in Fourtown, MN, Durward loved the comradery of the great outdoors. Another hobby Durward enjoyed was lawn care, so much so that he owned four lawn mowers, and you could often hear “you better not be driving on my lawn!” If you left a tire track on his lawn you were in trouble. And of course we cannot forget his love of auctions, whether it was a horse sale, hay sale or farm auction he was there. If you wanted to know where he was you just had to ask yourself what day of the week it was. Mondays he could be found at the sale in Mora, Thursdays was always Heidelberger’s and if it was a Saturday, it was anyone’s guess. He could be found from Verndale to Cannon Falls or anywhere in between.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, five sisters, a beloved niece, two nephews and most recently his wife of 69 years, Shirley.

Durward is survived by his 3 children: Patricia (Michael) Kuntz, Center City, MN; James (Carrie) Jacobsen, Stacy, MN; Mark Jacobsen, Cambridge, MN. He was blessed with 5 grandchildren: Megan Kuntz, Center City, MN; Stephan (Jeni) Kuntz, North Branch, MN; Eryn (Monty) Reedy, Mineral Wells, TX; Jimmy (Jessica) Jacobsen, Backus, MN; Joey (Brittany) Jacobsen, Rush City, MN. He was also a great grandpa to Taylor, Teagan & Taesyn Kuntz, Kaelyn Magnani, Kanin & Rozyn Borntrager and James Jacobsen.

Funeral Services 11AM, Thursday, April 24, 2025 at South Isanti Baptist Church.  Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment in the Old Bethel Cemetery.

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