Obituary of Charlene Deasy Jacobsen

On Sunday, April 14, 2019, Charlene Jacobsen, loving wife, sister, and mother, passed away at the age of 71 after a battle with Alzheimers. Charlene was born on December 5, 1947, to the late Charles and Sarah Deasy. She attended school in Ann Arbor, MI, and graduated from high school in Saline, MI. She earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University, as well as a masters degree from Marygrove College. In 1971 she married Taylor Jacobsen with whom she raised two sons, Einor and Arn. Charlene taught art to thousands of Saline students at Houghton and Pleasant Ridge elementary schools. She taught many more children and adults through classes at her workshop and weaving studio at Saline Mills. For decades, on Monday nights, Charlene hosted a regular group of artisans working on basketry, weaving, beading, and more. The Monday night ladies continue to meet to this day. An accomplished artist herself, Charlenes mastery spanned many disciplines. She started in fiber arts, spinning and weaving wool from the sheep that her husband raised. Her weaving led to basketry of all types, a craft in which she excelled, deftly weaving the smallest of baskets. She worked in jewelry, batik, beadwork, bookmaking, pysanky, scherenschnitte, altered arts, and mixed media. She was also devoted to restoring the Saline Mills property alongside Taylor. Charlene loved to garden, cooking and canning the bounty. She was passionate about preserving historic homemaking practices: dipping beeswax candles, soapmaking, and cooking on a wood-fired stove. She would spend summers creating artwork in her workshop, entertaining, and traveling. Charlene was active in the community and church. Charlene was preceded in death by her father, Charles Othello Deasy, and her mother, Sarah Frances Deasy (ne Perdue). She is survived by her husband, Taylor; sons Einor (Christina) Jacobsen of Saline and Arn (Rebecca) Jacobsen of Silver Spring, MD; grandchildren Anders and Anja Jacobsen; sister, Pat (Doug) Clubine of Grand Rapids; brothers Dick (Greta) Gourley of Knoxville, TN, and Tom (Pam) Deasy of Traverse City, MI; brothers-in-law Kim (Sonja Mitchell) Jacobsen of Saline (formerly of Honolulu, HI), and Barry (Marlene) Jacobsen of Saline; and an aunt, Judi Perdue. She is further remembered by her extended relatives, including several cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as her loving church family. A memorial service to celebrate Charlenes life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church in Saline, MI.