Category: Obituary: J

The Reverend Janet Boykin Johnson, social worker and activist, chaplain, spiritual director, and parish minister, died at age 72 on March 25, 2015.

Janet was born on 4 June 1942 to Thelma and Hubert Dallas. She earned a B.A. from Hunter College in 1966 and an MSW from the University of Chicago in 1972. In a first career, Janet was a social worker in the Chicago Public School System for 18 years. During that time, Janet was also an active member of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago, and caretaker to two grandsons, whom she adopted, Jason Johnson and (the late) Justin Johnson.

Janet was very involved in community affairs, and ministered to the public long before receiving fellowship. While living in Chicago, she was on the Board of Directors of the River Oaks Towne Houses Cooperative and was a member of Amnesty International. Also during this time, from 1975 to 1992, she served as host and program coordinator of the international nonprofit, Experiment in International Living. Her duties included hosting exchange students from Germany, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil. After moving to California, Janet sat on several pastoral care hospital boards, and co-managed a clothing store operated by the Chaplaincy for the Homeless.

She went on to attend Starr King School for the Ministry, and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2002. Ms. Johnson was ordained in 2002 by the First Unitarian Society of Chicago, Illinois. Subsequently, she served as a chaplain to cancer patients at a hospital in Richmond, CA. She left the hospital in 2004 and started a private spiritual direction practice. From 2004 to 2007 she worked in the practice and as a part time minister to the Mt. Diablo Church of Walnut Creek, CA. In 2008 she took a position as consulting minister to the UU Church of Cortland, NY, serving there until her retirement in 2013.

Janet enjoyed camping, knitting, crocheting, reading poetry, and listening to music

Janet is survived by her two daughters, Kimari Johnson and Kairis (Boykin) Bonella; her grandsons, Jason Johnson, Joseph Clayton, Jr., Johann Curry, Nieko Bonella, Angelo Bonella and Anton Klinnert; a son-in-law, Valentin Klinnert; step-children, Michele Freeny and Teren Johnson; first cousin, Thelma Williams and many distant cousins.

A memorial service was held at on Saturday, 4 April 2015 at the First Unitarian Church of Ithaca NY. For more information about where to send cards, flowers, and/or donations, please e-mail johnsonklinnert@yahoo.com.

The Rev. Arthur Jellis, 80, died May 28, 2004 of a cerebral aneurysm. He served congregations in Northborough, Concord, and Grafton, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Rockville and Lutherville, MD; Houston, TX; and Ottawa, ON. Survivors include five children: Julie Anne Medjanis of Harvard, MA; Jennifer J. Burke of Ayer, MA; Cassandra J. Werthman of Jackson, TN; Joshua C. Jellis of Freeport, ME; and Susan J. Veligor of Portland, ME; four stepchildren; eight grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; a brother, Leonard Jellis of Peabody; and a sister, Christiana E. (Betty) Kirkland of Concord, MA.

The Rev. William Richard Jacobsen, 74, died Nov. 2, 2006. As a teenager, Bill began studying to become a Lutheran Minister, and graduated from Concordia College. By then he had found the Unitarian tradition and attended Meadville Lombard. He served churches in Brooklyn, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, Canton, MA, and Bloomington, IL; and Palo Alto, CA. He was executive director of the Humanist Community in Palo Alto. Bill had a keen sense of humor, a true joy for life, and an ongoing enthusiasm for knowledge. He was an avid reader and enjoyed sharing his extensive knowledge. He was a gifted speaker. Bill believed in social change as a way to benefit all of humanity. He loved nature and hiked all over the Bay Area. He was particularly fond of Mount Montara in Pacifica. He is survived by his children, Juli Jacobsen of San Lorenzo and Eric Jacobsen of Pacifica; and by his former wife and dear friend, Dianne Jacobsen, of Palo Alto. A memorial service was held Nov. 19, 2006 at the UU Church, in Palo Alto.

The Rev. Donald J. Jacobsen, Sr., 85, died on January 6, 2013. Rev. Jacobsen was born in Brooklyn, NY on November 17, 1927 to Mina and Frederick Jacobsen. He attained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College in 1950. In 1952, he went on to earn a Master of Arts from Columbia University. Finally, he received his Master of Divinity from St. Lawrence Theological School in 1955.

Rev. Jacobsen was ordained at the Unitarian Church of Fort Worth, TX on October 18, 1955. He was first called to serve the Unitarian Church of Fort Worth in 1955 and he stayed there until 1957. From 1962-1965, he served the Neighborhood Church of Pasadena, CA as their Minister of Education. He was then called to the First Universalist Society of Chicago, IL and served as their minister from 1954-1970. Lastly, from 1970 until his retirement in 1987, he served as Minister of Education to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, GA.

Proudly dedicated to the denomination, Rev. Jacobsen was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association (UUMA), the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA), the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation (UUWF), the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), and the friends of Religious Humanism FRH). He also served as Chairman of the Social Responsibility Committee of the Central Midwest District.

Throughout his life, Rev. Jacobsen played an active role in the civil rights struggle. He worked as a volunteer with the NAACP and the American Friends Service Committee Job Opportunities Program; and served as the Chicago Area Coordinator for the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. He was also a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Abortion Rights Action League.

In addition to his ministerial career, Rev. Jacobsen taught elementary school, worked in psychiatric hospitals, and served in the Hospital Corps of the United States Navy.

In an autobiographical piece entitled, “Religious Odyssey,” Rev. Jacobsen writes:

What is important for me religiously is intelligent caring concern – attempting to love more fully and more helpfully to empower others to fulfill themselves, and to attempt to find ways where this kind of caring becomes more of a force in our congregation, in our community, in our nation, and in our world.

Rev. Jacobsen is survived by his wife, Ann Ehrlich; daughter, Karen Jacobsen-Mispagel; son, James Jacobsen; and grandchildren, Heather Mispagel Ganio, Benjamin Mispagel, and Elizabeth Jacobsen. His son, Donald Jacobsen, Jr., predeceased him.

A memorial service was planned for Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30329.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Dr. Karen Jacobsen-Mispagel at 1120 Cherokee Circle, Athens, GA 30606.

Ingeborg Jack, 88, widow of the Rev. Homer Jack, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Kendal at Longwood, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, January 17, 2016.

Inge, as she liked to be called, was born in Stuttgart, Germany, but spent her adult years living in the USA, Belgium, Switzerland, and Thailand. Her early memories are of hikes in the Black Forest, and singing folk songs with her family. Inge had a beautiful voice and was often asked to sing by school and town officials.

Before retiring, Inge worked for UNICEF in New York City. She helped establish two chapters of Amnesty International, and worked tirelessly supporting the work of her late husband, peace and human rights activist, Homer Jack. Upon Homer’s passing, she devoted her time lobbying for children living in war ravaged areas, and trying to eradicate the use of land mines (a cause she worked on with the late Diana, Princess of Wales); she was also concerned about global warming.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Homer Jack; her parents, Ernst and Auguste; a twin sister, Majella; a younger sister, Helma; as well as her beloved brother, Herbert. She leaves behind her daughter, Marianne, married to Chris Thatcher; as well as two other daughters, Renate and Sigrid; and five grandchildren, Annemarie (Georg), Mark (Jen), Robert (Karoline), “Mac”, and Jasmine. She also has five great-grandchildren: Sophie, Alastair, Julian, Edward, and Emily. She is survived by a sister, Majella Kolb.

The family of Ingeborg would like to thank the staff at Kendall for welcoming Inge like a family member, for the past ten years, and for the respect and loving care they gave her.

A Celebration of Life was scheduled for Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Kendal at Longwood, Kennett Square, PA.

Arrangements are by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square, Pa. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.