Kate and Kali

I want you to meet my 24-year-old cousin Kaitlyn Fryer and her fiancé Jack.  On April 14th, 2018 Kate and Jack were set up on a blind date by Jack’s sister and brother-in-law. They met for dinner at the Deepwater Grille in Ashland Wisconsin and had an immediate connection and were inseparable ever since. Kate and Jack traveled back and forth between Ashland, Wisconsin, where she lived, and Ironwood, Michigan, where he lived, spending as much time together as possible. Kate and Jack had a lot of the same interests, and they joined a co-ed softball team together. Jack loved to play baseball and hockey and he was a member of the Hurley Timberjaxx baseball team. Kate attended all of Jacks game and quickly became part of his Timberjaxx baseball family. Jack also had a love of flying, and he often took Kate on day trips in his Piper PA-28 single-engine airplane. Jack co-owned a charter fishing company with his brother, Glacier Girl Charters, run off the F/V Glacier Girl out of Black River Harbor in Ironwood Michigan, but was currently running charters out of Ontonagon Michigan for 2019. Jack loved fishing and hunting and being outdoors. Jack became a part of Kates family, and they all loved him. Jack was everything a woman could ever ask for, he was respectful, thoughtful, honest, responsible and ready to settle down and start a future and have a family. Kate and Jack often talked about how their wedding would be, and about having children. They made plans for their future and in February of 2019, their dreams started to become reality when Kate took a pregnancy test the day after Valentine’s Day. Kate and Jack were overjoyed to see the positive test results. Baby Maccani, is due October 24th, 2019. Jack moved into Kate’s apartment in Ashland and began to look for a job, as an HVAC technician. In May, they found their dream home and got an acceptance on the offer they made. Things were falling into place, and they couldn’t have been happier. In June, we all gathered together to celebrate Kate and Jack and their baby at a gender reveal party. Surrounded by family and friends, Kate pitched the softball and Jack swung and hit….Pink! It’s a girl! Jack dropped the bat and he and Kate walked towards each other and embraced in a hug. This was such an amazing event to witness. Two people, coming together and making all of their dreams come true. They already had a name picked out, Kali Jean Maccani. Two weeks later, Kate and Jack began to move into their new home. Jack was busy outside doing yard work, he was so proud of the new home he purchased for his family. They had so many plans, for their house, for their daughter, for their future. Jack had an engagement ring for Kate, stored in his safe, wait for the perfect moment to ask her to marry him. Jack loved Kate and his soon to be daughter Kali more than anything, and he couldn’t wait to become a dad. Jack’s eyes lit up when he talked about his little girl and everything he wanted to teach her. Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 started out as any other normal day. Kate got ready and went to work, and Jack was preparing to head to Ontonagon for a fishing charter. Jack decided he would fly to Ontonagon out of Ironwood Michigan. He stopped by Kate’s work on his way to Ironwood so she could fill his thermos up with his favorite lemonade. Jack gave Kate a kiss, told her he loved her and out the door, he went. She had no idea that was the last time she would ever see him. After boarding the plane Jack sent Kate a picture, telling her he was taking off and he loved her. Kate responded, but Jack never opened the message. Jack didn’t arrive as scheduled to the airport in Ontonagon, this prompted a search for the missing airplane and Jack. Friends and family gathered at the airport in Ironwood Michigan, praying for good news. Jacks truck sat in the parking lot. A search using information from Jacks cell phone’s last known location begun, assisted by Civil Air Patrol team, which found his location. Jack’s Piper PA-28 crashed into a remote area of Carp Lake township in Ontonagon County, Michigan. Jack was pronounced dead at the scene. Kate is as strong as any young woman you could encounter, but she faces many challenges ahead. The next several months will be a struggle for her both emotionally and financially. I’m asking for your help to get her through the next few months. Anything you can contribute will be accepted with gratitude.