Came into this world on a Tuesday.

He put himself on a schedule from early on. Jacob was always our detail man.

Jacob, along with his best friend Mike, and buddy Dave, formed a band they called the “Rabid Hamster.” They were getting ready to record their song, “The Muffin Man,”.....Jacob was the voice of the Muffin Man.

Jacob and his brothers played in the South of the River Youth Symphony. Jacob was a percussionist. I loved listening to him play the vibraphone and the tympani. I would often hear Jacob playing his trap set or his bass guitar in his room.

Extremely allergic to sumac, even so he loved to play paintball, and tried to avoid the sumac on our property. He usually was the victor.

When he was young he said he wanted to be a firefighter or a policeman. I asked him to choose something safer. When he told me he wanted to fly helicopters for the Marines, my response was, “Jacob if that’s what you really want to do, you need to do it, because when the number of your days are up, when your room is ready (with Jesus), it won’t matter whether you are at home or overseas fighting in a war, you’re going home. Just remember, even though you usually win in paintball, it only takes one bullet to end a life.” In Jacob’s case, it took only one drunk driver to end his life.

Jacob loved to fly, and wanted to fly helicopters for the Marines, his first helicopter flying lesson was on his 17th birthday.

Jacob’s best friend, Mike, ended up joining the Marines and became a helicopter crew chief. We are so proud of Mike. ( Mike has served in Iraq and Afghanistan ). Most of Jacob’s paintball buddies have joined the Marines.

October 10, 2004, all the plans Jacob had, came to a screeching halt, when the car he was riding in with his brothers, Matthew & Justin, was hit by an impaired driver. Jacob died shortly after midnight on October 11th.

Even though the brothers were wearing seat belts, they suffered many injuries. Due to the violent nature of the crash and the length of time it took rescue workers to get Jacob out of the car his brain swelled, cutting off oxygen. In addition to several broken bones, Jacob’s legs were crushed under the dash of Matthew’s little red Saturn. It took rescue workers an hour and 25 minutes to cut my Jacob out of Matthew’s car.

......a drummer needs his legs.......a helicopter pilot needs his legs.

         Killed by a drunk driver

To Be Continued.............

The Rabid Hamsters

“LARMM” Jacob’s Salute

Brotherly Advice

Jacob with Charles & Ryan in
Higginsville, Missouri
October 7, 2004

Favorite Songs

Who’s in the House JC-Carmin
The Muffin Man-The Rabid Hamsters

Jacob Nathanael