Travis Michael Jacobson

In merely 27 years, Travis Jacobson made the world around him and those he loved in it a much better place. With his charismatic and larger than life personality, it was in Travis' nature to simply want to make others happy and bring a smile to their faces, and indeed he did. It was evident to know whenever he walked through the door because Travis came in like a tornado, and always left an aftermath in his wake. A man full of hope and promise, Travis' time to live, love, work, and play was short-lived compared to most, yet he leaves an undeniable legacy in the memories he leaves behind.
Travis' story began at a time when technological advances were once again on the rise and news of the day included the end of the Cold War when The Berlin Wall was torn down. The year 1989 was also the debut the ever popular, TV sitcom, The Simpson's while the introduction of the Nintendo Game Boy was on nearly every Christmas list. Yet for Joe and Lisa (Torgeson) Jacobson, nothing caught their attention more than the May 22, 1989, birth of their twin sons, Ryan and Travis. Born two minutes after his brother, Travis remained at the hospital in the NICU unit and fought until he was healthy enough to join his brother at home.
Growing up in the community of Winona offered a young boy like Travis much adventure. He grew up alongside his twin, Ryan as well as four additional brothers including Josh, Brandon, Joey, and Dylan. There was another set of twin boys in Travis' family, but sadly one died during his mother's pregnancy, and Joey died shortly after his birth. To say the least, the Jacobson home was a bundle of activity. A very rambunctious household, Travis' mother often barricaded the boys in her living room in order to be productive in the kitchen. Even so, they never stayed put long enough and they always found a way out.
Travis and his brother found more than their share of mischief as youngsters. One Christmas morning, before anyone else in their household was up, Travis and Ryan went downstairs and proceeded to open every present under the tree! Another time, the boys got so annoyed with a babysitter they actually duct-taped her to a chair! They also found it fun to jump off the back deck onto all the boxes from putting the Steamboat Days buttons together, and whenever Travis babysat his younger cousins, he liked introducing them to scary movies. As Travis and his brothers grew older, they listened to a lot of rap music, and they really liked Tupac and Eminem. In his free time, Travis read a lot of books on criminal justice and race relations. His brother, Josh talked to him extensively about the book, "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander which truly intrigued Travis.
Travis helped bartend and co-manage Twin Bluffs, the bar his parents owned. He was also dedicated to helping his parents remodel the bar when they first took ownership. Travis liked being around people and could easily strike up a conversation. An avid learner, if Travis found interest in something, he'd research it until he knew all there was to know about it. Having a passionate demeanor would describe Travis to a tee. Although he was quite a profound and insightful man, he could argue a point just as passionately. Travis was clearly larger than life.
More than anything, Travis had a passion for helping others and he truly wanted to "make the world a better place" - which was a saying he always said. He regularly stood up for the underdog, and one time when he was in his early twenties, Travis sacrificed what little he had and bought a homeless man an umbrella to stay dry from the rain and a meal. He was always wanting to make people smile and he always put others first. Travis also had a soft spot in his heart for animals, especially his dog Romeo. The day he brought Romeo home he told his parents he was dog sitting for a friend for $20 a day, but one can only guess, the puppy actually belonged to Travis.
Travis loved taking things apart like phones and cars, but putting them back together never came too easily for him. When he bought one of his dad's Trans Ams, he decided he wanted it to have a custom interior, so he ripped everything out, and needless to say, it never got put back together. A forward thinking type of man, Travis had futuristic ideas. Meagan, his girlfriend, thought he was so smart that she was sure he'd end up inventing something someday.
Going on adventures and surprising people brought happiness to Travis. He had a romantic side too, and one time while he and Meagan were out on the deck looking at the stars he went inside, grabbed his laptop and started playing music. Before Meagan knew it, they were dancing and singing under the stars. Quite a spontaneous fellow, Travis loved nothing more than making people smile.
Some people make the world a better place just by being in it. Although the spark which ignited Travis' desire to please people and make the days of others brighter was few in number, the impact he left behind on the hearts of all who knew him will remember Travis with fondness. Gone yet never to be forgotten is a man who made his mark in the world albeit for a brief time.
Travis Michael Jacobson, 27, of Winona, died Friday, October 14, 2016. He is survived by his parents, Joe and Lisa; twin brother, Ryan (Katie Young); brothers, Josh, Brandon (Paulina Manders), Joey, and Dylan; grandparents, Ardel Pagel and Lyle and Peggy Jacobson; maternal aunts and uncles, Tammy (Bob) Bigelow, Tina (Brian) Hjelmeland, and John (Patty) Torgeson; paternal aunts and uncles, Ritch (Vicki) Jacobson, Teresa (Greg) Zaborowski, Cathy (Bill) Lanik, Carolyn (Steve) Zaborowski, Mary (Scott) Kosidowski, and Kathy Jacobson; many cousins and friends; girlfriend, Meagan Petron; and his dog, Romeo. In heaven he joins his brother who died in infancy, Joey; grandparents, Harold and Cindy Torgeson and Richard Pagel; uncles, Bob Jacobson and Brian Zaborowski; and Mary Margaret Jacobson. A visitation will be from 3-7 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Hoff Celebration of Life Center, Goodview, with a prayer service at 7. Visitation will continue at 9 a.m. until the time of service on Friday. A Celebration of Life will be at 10 a.m., Friday, October 21, 2016 at Hoff Celebration of Life Center led by Deacon Glenn Sanders. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred. Hoff Celebration of Life Center, Goodview, is assisting the family.