Our family is devastated by the loss of Jacob Stewart McVeigh, who passed away this week at just 35 years old.

Jacob was incredibly smart, mischievous, compassionate, fiercely loyal, kind, and loving. He had a huge heart and left an unforgettable mark on the people who knew him.

He also had a wonderfully warped sense of humour and an incredible ability to make people laugh. Jacob could find humour in the most unexpected places, often in moments that probably should not have been funny at all, and somehow bring everyone else into the joke. Anyone who knew Jacob well will know exactly what we mean.

Jacob loved his family deeply, and that love is still felt in every part of them. He looked up to his dad and proudly followed in his footsteps into pipefitting. With his mom, he always knew he was safe, deeply loved, and completely held. He shares a true brotherhood with Max and a gentle, protective bond with Taylor. Family is at the heart of who Jacob is, and that love will always remain.

Jacob was tremendously proud of his work as a sprinkler pipefitter. He built real skill, knowledge, and experience in his trade and took enormous pride in the quality of his work, the reputation he earned, and, of course, just how many sprinkler heads he could install in a day. His work mattered, and he was proud of the career he built.

In the middle of unimaginable grief, our family wants to create something meaningful in Jacob’s name, something that gives another person an opportunity to move forward and allows his legacy to continue for years to come.

We are establishing the Jacob Stewart McVeigh Memorial Fund to support two causes that are deeply connected to Jacob’s life.

Funds raised will be used to support:

1. Skilled Trades Education

Helping someone pursue schooling, apprenticeship education, certification, or other educational costs associated with entering the skilled trades.

2. Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Helping someone access addiction treatment and recovery support when financial barriers might otherwise stand in the way of receiving care.

Our hope is for this to become more than a one time fundraiser. We want to build a lasting legacy in Jacob’s name, with the goal of establishing an annual memorial award that can be given to someone each year. Through education, recovery, or both, we hope this fund will continue creating opportunities long into the future and allow Jacob’s name to live on through the lives of others.

For our family, both purposes are connected by one simple hope: that Jacob’s life and legacy can help open a door for someone else, year after year.

Please donate, share, and help us change the trajectory of someone’s life while creating a lasting legacy in Jacob’s name.

Most of all, we would love to hear your memories of Jacob. Share a photo, a story, something ridiculous he did, something kind he did, something that made you laugh, or a part of Jacob our family may not have known. We want to look back and see all the people, friendships, laughter, and moments that made up Jacob’s life.

As things settle, our family will also share more information about Jacob’s service and celebration of life, so those who loved him can come together, remember him, share stories, and celebrate the person he was to so many.

Thank you for loving Jacob, for supporting the McVeigh family during an unimaginable loss, and for helping us create something meaningful and lasting in his name.

Jacob Stewart McVeigh

Forever Young. Forever Loved.