A childhood friend, a brother, a heart the world stil needs

It started at 8 years old that I met Jake... At the time I wasn't really sure of what we shared in common but that would dramatically change growing up in that tiny town...

Little did I know then that I'd live a childhood only seen in movies. A childhood only read about in young indiana jones books that overwhelm you with nostalgia, mystery, and a sense of wonder we all feel deeply. All because of my friendship to Jacob. We shared a childhood so rich, and full of excitement and connection that the infinite miseries of being raised in a modern apocalypse cult faded into the background for most of our childhood. We needed that too. We needed to be kids, we needed each other. We needed to dream of something bright, something real, and something with hope to look forward to. So off we went...

Jake was the kind of friend that you spend every moment you had with, riding around town on your bicycles peddling as fast as you can, to get away from that evil neighborhood dog. Traveling at what feels like lightspeed through all the shortcuts, fields, and alleyways you've memorized, only to find yourself saying, "Oh my god I thought he had us this time dude! That was SOO CLOSE! I know RIGHT!? I swear I felt him get my ankle but then I just peddled faster!

Jake was the kind of friend that you sneak into some old school supply shed with behind the library because, "holy cow dude, they left a ping pong table in here! They even have paddles and balls! Lets play!"

Jake's the kind of friend that you build treehouses with from nails found at an old construction site you explored because "Hey man, we can totally use these nails to finish our treehouse behind the fairgrounds. We just need a hammer and some wood!"

He's the kind of friend that you hunt for arrowheads, pottery shards, and geodes with in the foothills outside of town because, "You won't believe it but I heard there's an old silver mine out west and I found an obsidian arrowhead in that same area! Is your bike still flat or do you need a pump?"

Jake was the kind of friend that you sneak out with at night to explore a condemned house with next to your grandmas because, "Hey we can totally use this as our new fort man, this is so AWESOME! We just gotta clean it up a little bit and your dad has a big shop broom right? ok, i'll bring a shovel and meet you here tomorrow!"

He's the kind of friend that would come help you cut the grass that usually took 4 hours to do alone and help with your dreaded chores on the weekend because "Dude I got an idea to catch that huge toad in the river next to the radio station that always gets away, and I bet it'll work! That toad is definitely as old as Gandalf and we're gonna get him this year!" And the list goes on and on...These are all true stories.

He was the kind of friend that sits in jail with you not because he made the wrong choices, but because he didn't want you making those stupid choices without him. Every nostalgic element of my life in childhood, has Jake's name written on it and his soul frequency permanenetly embedded into it.

He was the kind of person that was willing to stand up for you no matter who it was against, the kind of person that is willing to fight for what's right and true no matter how gray the world around us persisted in becoming. He didn't fear authority and he was the kind of person that is not only there when you need him, but is genuinely happy for you when you make strides in the right direction... all without any jealousy. Jake ferociously defended his friends, his family, and those that were dear to him as if he'd spent lifetimes before this one practicing the art of knighthood.

Those of us that knew the real Jake, the deep kindness and stoicism that drove him, will never see another day pass the same with his heart and presence missing. As many hardships life threw at him, and CONSTANTLY, he remained kind and full of compassion and strength. It was his design. It was what defined him. A truly compassionate soul that would take in wounded or abused animals endlessly, even to his own misfortune. For reference, his cat ate some plastic a year ago and he spent thousands of dollars to get it removed, TWICE mind you... all while he was struggling financially and at times on the verge of homelesness. Jacob valued love, kindness, and truth more than his own wellbeing, and for that, he will be remembered as a soul that few were lucky enough to know on a deeper level. I was priveleged to have him as my best friend and my life is changed forever because of it. If there was ever a more sensitive, loyal, intelligent, and integrity oriented heart and human on this planet, I have yet to meet them...

Jake fully embodied the epitome of characteristics the world so badly needs right now... The few that knew him as deeply as me and his family did, will stand by him and miss him with a unyielding heartache that won't be patched until we see him again.

We miss you Jake, we love you more than you know, and will do our best without you here. Rest in peace and until we meet again, because there's still so many more adventures to be had...

All funds donated will be used for his funeral expenses and for his family organizing it.