Harvey K. Jacobson

OSHKOSH, Wis. – Harvey K. Jacobson, 93, of Oshkosh, died December 8, 2023 in Oshkosh, WI.  Dr. Jacobson was professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. 

Jacobson was born Sept. 19, 1930, at Langdon, N.Dak., to Carl and Helen (Swenson) Jacobson. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, 1952-1954. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Dakota and the Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jacobson married Borghild Schoberg June 10, 1962, at Moorhead, Minn. and they lived in Madison, Wis., Grand Forks, N.Dak., and Ann Arbor, Mich., before moving to Oshkosh in 1984. Jacobson’s career was devoted to journalism, higher education administration, teaching and research. He reported and edited for the Fargo Forum in the 1950s. He also served in executive, administrative and faculty positions at the University of North Dakota and the University of Michigan for more than 25 years. Jacobson accepted a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Fall 1984 and served as professor of journalism until June 1993, when he retired.

Jacobson was active in professional and educational organizations at local, district and national levels. He won several awards for publications, programs and professional leadership and authored more than 130 journal articles and publications. Jacobson was a member of First English Lutheran Church, Oshkosh. Over time, he served on committees and boards of Lutheran congregation in North Dakota, Michigan and Wisconsin, and served on committees and task forces of the American Lutheran Church at synod and national levels. 

Jacobson was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Borghild, who died in 1994, and three brothers, Orville, Claude and Floyd, and a sister, Gloria Soli. Survivors include a son, Paul (Anne) Jacobson, Ferndale, Mich.; a daughter, Maren McCue, Chelsea, Mich.; and two grandchildren, Jourdan and Jacob McCue, Chelsea, Mich.

Funeral services will be held at Evergreen Retirement Community on April 13^th at 10:30 a.m. led by the Rev. John Wills, pastor at First English Lutheran Church of Oshkosh and Rev. Steve Wood, Evergreen chaplain. Visitation will be at Evergreen from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A reception at Evergreen will follow the service. Burial will be at South Pembina Lutheran Church Cemetery, Loam Township, rural Langdon, N.Dak., on July 6^th. Email hkj.burialinfo@gmail.com for further burial details.

The family requests that those wishing to give memorials direct them to the Evergreen Foundation Benevolence Fund or the First English Lutheran Church Music Fund.