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  • Obert Jacobson played taps one last time Sunday during an event in his honor. The Madelia nursing home resident has concluded a 62-year career playing Taps for 235 military funerals. Joelle Pipal

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March 21, 2010

Vets groups honor longtime bugler

Obert Jacobson played Taps at 235 military funerals over 62 years

By Brian Ojanpa Free Press Staff Writer

MADELIA — Obert Jacobson likes to toot his own horn, and on Sunday he was honored for it.

The Madelia man who has played Taps at area military funerals for more than 62 years had his day in the sun — and put his trumpet to his lips for perhaps the last time in public.

“I kind of have the feeling I’m attending my own funeral,” Jacobson joked before playing the familiar paean. “But I sure appreciate everyone coming out for me today. I’ll never forget this.”

The event was held at Luther Memorial Home, where Jacobson now resides after having to step away from his long labor of love and, as he saw it, service to his country.

Jacobson never served in World War II. The government decided his two drafted brothers were enough and allowed him to stay at home to help his father farm.

Jacobson, who played in area bands, thought playing taps at funerals was the least he could do for his nation, and he has participated in 235 of them.

Accordingly, Madelia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Cmdr. Mike Grote said Sunday’s fete was the least area veterans clubs could do for Jacobson.

“We were having a chat awhile ago and we thought, ‘We haven’t done anything to honor Obert.’ So this all came together pretty quickly,” Grote said.

Jacobson’s Taps rendition Sunday was accompanied by a military honor guard 21-gun salute.

Ironically, the man who played Taps all those years is ineligible for the same honor at his funeral because he isn’t a military veteran.

But if ever an exception was in order, this is it, and Grote said Jacobson will get his due.

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