Thank you, Cindy.  God bless B.J., Buck & Wayne

Gone

yet not forgotten,

although we are apart,

your spirit lives

within me,

forever in my heart.

We miss you, Baby King!

Thank you, Brenda.  God bless Scott and Samantha.




From Brenda, William Scott Myers' mom.
Thank you.  God bless Scott and Samantha.

We were so moved and grateful when the national director of 4-H was touched by Jake's story and had a flag flown over the USDA building in Washington, D.C. in memory of Jake.  They sent us the flag and a beautiful certificate, which we displayed at the County Fair, and during National 4-H week.

from Cindy, B.J., Buck & Wayne's mom.  Thank you, Cindy.  
God bless you with love from those boys above!

Dragonfly Legend

In the bottom of an old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their group ever came back after crawling up the stems of the lilies to the top of the water.  They promised each other that the next time one who was called to make the upward climb would return and tell what happened to him.  Soon, one of them felt an urgent impulse to seek the surface; he rested himself on the top of a lily pad and went through a glorious transformation, which made him a dragonfly with beautiful wings.  In vain, he tried to keep his promise.  Flying back and forth over the pond, he peered down at his friends below.  Then he realized that even if they could see him, they would not recognize such a radiant creature as one of their number.
The fact that we cannot see our children or communicate with them in the usual way after the transformation, which we call death, is no proof that they cease to communicate with us.
--- Walter Dudley Cavet

Thank you, Lisa. God bless Edward.

When Jake was born, he weighed just over ten pounds. The nurses knew and commented immediately that he was going to be a football player! He attended school in his small home town and was just a couple months away from his high school graduation. He was a member of his parish, celebrating the sacraments throughout his life, was confirmed in his Catholic faith in the fall of 2005, but in no way was Jake a "religious" kind of guy! He believed and lived his faith the best he could. For a guy who didn't much care to go to church (even though he always did), he now enjoys the company of his Savior and all the angels and saints - all those who had gone before him, and those who have since joined him there in heaven.

Dad, Erin, Luke, and Nate welcome brand new baby, Jake 3/8/88

Jake was in 4-H for nine years, winning many grand champion ribbons for his woodworking, photography, and art work.  He also exhibited at the State Fair, which he was very proud of doing.  He loved to see how many blue and purple ribbons he could earn for his hard work!  

Jake's first grand champ project     Oak desk Jake built       2004 4-H  fair projects        2005 projects

Jake was a ready volunteer for things that needed to be done around his home, school, town, and parish, but prefered to do so in a "behind the scenes" kind of way.  No matter the job, Jake did so without complaint!

                          
                               Always loved to help!                                       Jake, Luke, Dad pour concrete

Jake played great second base in Little League and junior high baseball.  He played youth soccer for eight years with gusto.  
 Jake pitched a little in Pee Wee's
In high school he participated in band, playing the saxophone, but for Jake, it was more about the good times spent with friends in band.  He tried golf for a year, but that surely wasn't his sport!  He was a force on his beloved Bulldog eight-man football team, playing line both ways.  He was a quiet, but effective leader and a calming presence on the team.  Jake helped the school computer tech manager with computer set up and maintenance.  He even made his corn rogueing and detasseling job fun for himself and his buddies!  Jake also worked as a pizza-maker, bringing fun times to this job, too!

    

Ever since he was a small child, Jake loved to build things using his own design and creative imagination, with whatever "junk" that was on hand.  He went on to create beautiful oak furniture and even learned how to weld so he could make things - especially for skateboarding.  


He was an avid skateboarder since childhood, with the many various bumps and scrapes that go along with it.  Jake would help other kids learn tricks and it was nothing for him and his buddies to get up in the pre-dawn hours to drive to the nearest skatepark to spend the day.  People all over our small town would know the sound of Jake's skateboard going up and down the street and skating different steps and obstacles.  He would be at it all hours of the day and night!  
                
                  

These are both at Spencer.

At Omaha when Jake was younger. 

We went to see Toy Machine!

Made by Jake
This was his nick name with some friends,
especially on-line.

Jake made many fantastic computer graphics and
Photoshopped creations!

No love, no friendship can cross the
path of our destiny without leaving
some mark on it forever. 
-- Francois Mauriac

Jake, all your friends miss you so much! 
Always be at their side,
always along for the ride.







This song is about Jake, Luke and Mark & Matt B. a.k.a"Mouthy", & Keith
their time spent skating, 
and other friends - 
and how we all feel now.

Sanctity Of Brothers 
by Unearth
(play song over on the right) 

A west side run through.
One string away from taking the lead.
We stalked the streets at night to live, to feel, to breathe.
Bring back those days of gold where the torch was ours to bare.
A troubled youth to some, to us our crown to wear.
I see a time, a sanctity of brothers.
We knew another world, A west side horror.
A torch burned out before his own time.
We close our eyes at night to hurt, to heal, to breathe.
Bring us back to the day.
Bring us back to our ages of innocence.
Our times to live forever.
Our worlds will meet again.
Worlds.

Poetry by Matt Bodholdt, one of Jake's close friends.  Thank you, Matt. It's amazing!

Not a day goes by where I don't think of Jake in some way. Missing you tremendously every day...
-- Matt


               Fire 

          Continuance of breath? 
          Lives slide by 
          just beyond our horizon 
          What comtemplates these atrocities? 
          why the sphere still reels (is beyond me)
          when the birds stopped that day
          five seconds became infinite
          no words can encompass
          no action can convalesce.
          the moment
          burns
          the fire inside inspires being
          (paradox)
          alive
          for those who care
          alive
          for those who are no longer there

          seconds pass by
          one by one
          each fleeting moment
          a chance to change...


                         Fragility

                         mossy rock cushion,
                         beautiful and treacherous,
                         doesn't bequeath traction.
                         it beckons 
                         Come on, they say, come in
                         the air is fine
                         crisp on this bittersweet day
                         of relief transcending pain…
                         but even one step is a perilous journey
                         for the rest of us…

                         I can't help but wonder
                         what it was like to let go.
                         where is the mind,
                         when freedom becomes reality?
                         there's something to see now.
                         new life in death?
                         the suffering at the end of it's presence.
                         no more pain, no more angst

                         you would tell me not to shed a tear,
                         I still can't hear you…

                         Somehow this is where we all end 
                         inevitable of life, obliging death
                         we shall meet again
                         if only for a brief second
                         our paths will cross



Another favorite pastime was tinkering on his car. He wanted to put his latest "how-to" pics and tips on his MySpace. 

                                    


Jake was an awesome artist who loved to create with different media, airbrush, draw, paint, and sculpt.  His passion was pop art, graphic design on the computer - he could do about anything with a computer, Photoshop and computer animation, video making and editing.  Art and computer graphic design and animation is what he was going to go to college to study.  He also loved to write amusing and fantastic stories.  Jake spent hours online with friends and his favorite  music - mostly heavy metal - was an important part of his personality.  
Even though our tears still fall, and always will, all who know and love Jake carry him in their hearts and live, laugh and love in his honor!

a few years ago

Jake's times spent with friends and family mattered most to him.  He was a friend to all, could make anyone laugh - often when he shouldn't be, like in class -- and bring anyone smiles when they needed one.  He and his brothers and sister and friends would sometimes share quiet times together, but usually they were up to various crazy antics and going to concerts.

Luke & Jake, in his prom tux

The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning that
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
you did not go alone;
for part of us went with you,
the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories,
your love is still our guide,
and though we cannot see you,
you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken
and nothing seems the same,
but as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.



Jake, Nathan, Luke, Erin 
                         all four kids                          


 A Name For My Pain
by June Williams-Muecke

I have given a name to my pain --
It's called "Longing."

I long for what was,
And what might have been.

I long for his touch and smell of sweat.
I long to hold him one more time.

I long to look on his beautiful face
And impress it upon my memories and heart.

I long to return to the day before
And protect him from his death.

I long to take his place,
So he may live and have sons, too.

I long for time to pass much faster.
So my longing and pain will lessen.

Will they?

                        


Thank you, Jane. God bless Adam.


O my son, my son . . .
Would God I had died for thee . . .
O my son, my son.

Jake liked Offspring when he was younger. 
Little did I know how this song would come to pass . . .


Gone Away

Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal it's so unfair

And it feels like 
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away

Leaving flowers on your grave
Show that I still care
But black roses and hail Mary's 
Can't bring back what's taken from me

I reach to the sky and call out your name
And if I could trade           I would
 
And it feels 
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it stings
Yeah it stings
Yeah it stings now
The world is so cold
Now that you've gone away


Here are the lyrics to "Collision," a song over on the right, in case you're not used to listening to metal music.  This is a favorite group of Luke and Jake's, and believe it or not, I listen to this kind of music, too.  Luke spoke to a member of this group at a concert after Jake's death and told him how much their music has helped.  I have listened to this so many times as I sit and cry . . .

Collision
by As I Lay Dying

Can you understand my meaning hidden in the roses around my eyes?
I want you to know how much it means to have you in my life.
Your love brings me close again in this instance, this single moment
when our worlds collide.
The wire of eternity twists around us.
I can feel this river rising, moving up my back.
Some things never change.
Some things never go away.
Some things never change.
Some things never go away.

I could never forget you,
and I will never be the same.
I can never forget you
and I will never be the same.

Some things never change.
Some things never go away.

I could never forget you
and I will never be the same.


Made by Jake, self portrait

I Heard My Son

Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear.
I opened my eyes and looked around,
But he did not appear.
He said, "Mom, you've got to listen.
You've got to understand.
God didn't take me from you, Mom,
He only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that night,
The instant that I died,
He reached down and took my hand,
And pulled me up and saved me 
from the misery and pain.
My body was hurt so badly inside,
I could never be the same.

I've found happiness within,
All that might have been. 
I love you and miss you so,
And I'll always be nearby.
My body's gone for now,
But my spirit will never die!

And so, you must go now,
Live one day at a time.
Just understand
God did not take me from you,
He only took my hand."
-- author unkown


Thank you, Maria. 
God bless your precious angels.



KayAnn, Jake's friend and classmate.  
She got to heaven eleven months before Jake, April 28, 2005.  
She gave the gift of life to others as she left.

KayAnn, we love you forever and we'll never forget you.
You and Jake, have fun up there and watch over us!



 
Thank you, Joyce
God bless Matthew!
Skate on, guys!


http://www.tyler-smith.memory-of.com 
Please visit this precious little boy's site. He was taken by the same illness ten days before Jake. 


Another precious one taken by this illness in Nov., 2006. Visit his site.
http://landan-harris.memory-of.com