John Jacobson

John Oscar Jacobson, age 61, died April 23, 2026, at his family's home in Rock Creek, Oregon, on the ground where he was born. There will be no service at his request; however, there will be a celebration of life at a later date.

John was born September 21, 1964, in Baker City to Marsha and Jack Jacobson. He was active in 4-H, sports, and plenty of hunting throughout school, graduating from North Powder High School. While attending Oregon State University, he met the love of his life, Amber, and married in 1989. They were partners in life and raised a successful family together for 36 years, which they are both very proud of. He graduated from Oregon State University, College of Veterinary Science in 1990. After three years in Visalia, California, he and Amber settled in Brookings, Oregon, where they together built a successful veterinary practice with business partner Laurie Johnson for the remainder of their careers.

Cattle, hunting, fishing, and family were a constant part of his life as he and Amber bought ranches in Bonanza, Sprague, and Rock Creek, Oregon. John Loved to archery hunt for elk, deer, and bear every September with his brother Kirk and a good family friend, Craig Judge. Most recently, he and his wife purchased land on his stomping grounds in Willow Creek near Rock Creek, to build their retirement home and base for his family to visit for generations.

John was crazy about duck and goose hunting. Each Fall after archery season, his focus became duck and goose hunting. He made regular trips to Klamath Falls to duck- and goose-hunt with friends and family. During the past five Falls, he was excited to plan a duck and goose hunting trip to Canada with good friends and his brother Kirk. Even after five days of shooting full limits of ducks and geese each Fall in Canada, John could keep hunting more! He was our bird-hunting fool!

John and his wife retired in 2023 after building a successful multi-location veterinarian practice that they sold to their daughter, Alycia. This also allowed them to spend more time with their daughter, Alycia Jacobson, and her fiancé, Collin Roberts, in Brookings, Oregon; with their daughter, Abbey, and her husband, Mike Torello, and granddaughter, Ellie Rose Torello, age 16 months, in Austin, Texas. John was a proud, proud grandpa and loved his time with Ellie Rose. They began traveling more with close friends Chris and Sandy Colton, with trips to Mexico, Belize, Aruba, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and multiple islands in the Caribbean. They were able to take two safaris with family to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania, and made many great memories, witnessing the beauty of many amazing animals and landscapes of Africa. Retirement allowed more time to visit Kirk and Kathy Jacobson and spend time together hunting and camping on their new property in Willow Creek.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Marsha Jacobson, and his sister Katrina Jacobson. He is survived by his wife, Amber Jacobson, two children- daughter Abbey Jacobson-Torillo (Mike), granddaughter Ellie Rose, daughter Alycia Jacobson (fiance Collin Roberts), and brother Kirk Jacobson and sister-in-law Kathy Jacobson.
With John's sudden loss to heart disease, the family can't express enough gratitude for all the love and support that many good friends and family have extended. Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot.

John was passionate about his career as a veterinarian and the work he and his employees performed. Should you wish, donations in his memory can be made to Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St, Baker City, Oregon, 97814.