If you need any computer work done, John (Jake) Jacobsen has started a new business. Jake has worked a long time in the industry and he is now available to make house calls. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
John Jacobsen has started a new business. A 1970 graduate of Cook County High School, John, or Jake as he is most commonly called, retired last year as the technology coordinator for CCHS, but after some time off, he got the itch to work again and is offering his computer services to the public.
Jake didn’t always live in Cook County. An adventurer at heart, he moved to Alaska in 1979.
“I lived in Alaska for 20 years from 1979 through 1999. I lived up there for five years by myself before I got married. Then Heidi (his wife) and I lived there for the next 15 years before we moved to the lower 48. We had all five of our children in Alaska.”
As a young man Jake spent one summer canoeing to Hudson Bay with several other local fellows. He loves the outdoors and has an extensive outdoor work history.
“I have worked as a sport fishing guide, big game transporter guide, caretaker, carpenter, teacher, missionary, commercial fisherman (smelt, herring, salmon, halibut), deckhand on boats and ships, bartender, coach, cannery worker, fire technician, green chain wood stacker, greens keeper, dry cleaner’s delivery driver, coach, cannery manager, politician, bag boy at local grocery store, grant administrator, Alaska bush trapper, forest service recreation and timber technician, and school paraprofessional. Just to name a few.”
So, with that background, how did you get involved with computers? A decidedly inside, technical job?
“Well,” he explained, “During the mid 1980s, I could see that computers were an up-and-coming concern. My children would be a part of this newer technology and I wanted to participate with them in the learning process.
“At the time we were living in the Aleutian Islands and storms would sweep in and keep us housebound for days.
“Well, with nothing to do I decided to play around with some DOS and Apple computers. One thing led to another and soon I had an Appletalk network up and running. Thus I was into networking.
“Some teachers from the local bush school heard I was working on Apple computers and hired me to take care of the school computers and networks. Living in small bush communities logistically made outside services expensive. Tech support had to be flown in from other villages. So to have a tech person living in the village saved the school district and local village government money.
“A short time later people in the village government heard about it and thought it was a good thing to have a computer tech living in their remote village. So they paid my way and sent me to Irvine, California (Apple headquarters) to become a certified technician. Thus was my start in the computer field.”
Moving to California was a big culture shock, but Jake was busy attending school at the Apple headquarters and education center in Irvine, California, and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.
“I also attended many various technology training centers and workshops,” he added.
In August 2002, John and his family moved back to Grand Marais. He worked for I.S.D. 166 for 16 years, 7 months, managing the school district’s technology department as well as coaching kids in a variety of sports before retiring from full-time work.
As far as retiring from coaching, that will probably never happen. Even though his children are grown and gone, most of whom were very good athletes, this fall he coached junior high football and this winter he is coaching 6-8 grade boys’ basketball.
As far as his commitment to kids, Jake has been a mentor and coach to a great many children through his life.
“I have coached many sports and activities at all levels: baseball (Babe Ruth), basketball (adult, high school, middle school, and elementary) football (junior high and Pony League), volleyball, NYO (native youth Olympics), and Cub Scouts.”
And through all of that hectic schedule and jumble of life in general, Jake said he and Heidi “just had our 33rd anniversary.”
When it comes to his business, he said, “I can work on a number of devices, hardware and software issues for home and business, but the niche I would like to carve out is the home user. They are the most vulnerable.
“I can provide help from consulting in picking out a new computer to connecting peripheral devices, such as wireless routers and printers. Then there is the whole security aspect of computing. Data backup, chasing viruses, removing spyware and malware, which can bring your computer to a halt. I can provide tablet and cell phone support as well.”
If you need help with your computer(s), call Jake’s Computer and Technology Services at 218-940-1463. There are very few nicer or more interesting people than Jake.
Leave a Reply