Obituary of Gail Jacobsen

Gail Daun Jacobsen

June 15, 1944 – December 20, 2024

Gail Daun Jacobsen passed away December 20, 2024, at Duke University Medical Center.  Gail’s journey began in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was born to John “Jack” Delos Daun and Karen Midtling Daun and spent her childhood.  After a brief stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gail lived for many years in Knightdale, North Carolina, and for the past fifteen years in Vacaville, California.  Gail had recently returned to North Carolina to be close to her children and grandchildren.

Gail deeply loved, and was loved by, her family and many friends.  She was gifted with a mischievous sense of humor.  During the holidays, friends and family looked forward to baked treats from Gail.  She was also a master needleworker, whose creations adorn the walls and homes of generations of family, friends, and neighbors.  Gail was an avid reader.  She loved to travel, which she did often – especially during her California years.

Gail was blessed with marriages to three wonderful men.  With Jon Wessen, she had her two children.  After his passing, Gail married her postman – who did ring twice, it seems – Graham Cousins, who loved Gail’s children as his own, and with whom she made a loving home in Knightdale until his passing in 1999.  Gail found joy afterward when she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Lynn “Jake” Jacobsen, at their fiftieth class reunion.  Gail and Jake married and made their home in California.  They enjoyed each other and many travels until Jake’s passing in 2022.

Gail is survived by her children, Jonathan (Tracy) Cousins and Amy (Jay) Campbell.  Grandchildren, Curran and Cailin Campbell, were the apple of their Grammy’s eye.

Gail’s California family includes stepchildren, Simone (Vince) Reel and Michael (Lisa) Fernandez, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. 

Gail is also survived by two brothers, Phillip (Nita) Daun and Timothy (Diane) Daun, and a sister, Debby (Kent) Lilja.  A sister, Pamela, died in infancy.  Gail was blessed with many nieces and nephews.

The family will host a celebration of life in the coming weeks.  She will be interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. 

In lieu of flowers or other memorials, Gail asked that those wishing to honor her legacy do so with a contribution to the PTSD Foundation of America (ptsdusa.org).

Ralph Waldo Emerson advised, “Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth's beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.”  Gail lived and enjoyed a successful life.  She will be missed.