Steam & Excursion > Laura Jacobson has died

https://www.smithfuneralhomesugarcreek.com/obituaries/Laura-Jacobson?obId=46448578

Mrs. JJJ was usually at the end of the gift shop counter, so quiet a lot of people didn't notice her. She will share the mausoleum she and Jerry built, tight where they'd have a good view in the roundhouse window. I'd say "rest in peace," but they might find that boring. Rest in steam.

Rebecca Morgan
Jacobsburg, OH

Thank you for this notice. Their legacy endures.

While I haven't read much about her, it is pretty certain that she played a big role in the creation and development of the AOS complex. Maybe I'm assuming too much, but how much of a role has she played in the ongoing operation of the AOS since Jerry's death?
It seems a lot of projects of historical significance have advanced since then and I applaud them for what they have continued to do in recent years

Posted from Android

Sad to hear. She was a very nice lady.

As I think back, I was a broke (with a capital "B") college student back in 1998 when I made a dog-legged drive from southern Illinois to visit my grandparents in the Detroit suburbs via the Ohio Central at Sugarcreek.  It was a weekday when I rolled into town in the mid-afternoon, possibly a Monday but whatever day they used to do a boiler wash and such on the steam locomotive.  I took the chance to ride the diesel-powered train since I planned on doing sound recordings and photography with the steam locomotive the next couple of days.

While I was in the gift shop, I mentioned I would be around for a couple of days and was planning to either pitch a tent somewhere or sleep in the car.  The lady I was talking to said there was no need for that, and opened up the Sunday school room at her church for me to crash in under cover.  All these years later, I can't remember any names.  I have to wonder if it was her.

Good memories of someone doing something above and beyond for a total stranger!

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

I had the pleasure of meeting Laura and Jerry Joe a few times and what always struck me is that they never seemed to meet a stranger. Extremely humble people. I believe Laura was raised Amish and I'm sure a lot of those values were instilled in the Jacobson family and indeed the entire OC operation. I remember one OC photo special where the railroad served a full Amish dinner at the shop at Morgan Run and I believe Laura had made the homeade pies. One of the best tasting meals I've ever had and smack dab in the middle of two coal fired locomotives under steam to boot. I never pass through an Amish community without thinking back to that.

 

Both Laura and Jerry were Mennonites, and if you accepted them they accepted you.   My wife became good friends with Laura from the TRAIN conventions back in the 90's.

When I visited the OC in Sugar Creek it didn't take me long to realize just how instrumental she was in the business success of the railroad.  Brilliant business woman.     When she decided to adopt some Russian children, and those took preference of her time, she withdrew from the railroad.   It didn't take long to see the impact.  During her tenure the ridership hit well over 100,000, never did that again.

I did get invited to eat at their home at times, accepted it, and considered it a priviledge.    I just like to make sure that her legacy is well beyond just being 'Jerry's wife', the success of the railroad had as much to do with her as him.