Entries by Jakob's Uncle

I had to do a little work to fix the hacking from the hosting company, fixing missing graphics and what not.  I also realized that the little slideshow movie was gone and since it wasn't HD anyway I'd decided to spruce up the old one.  Watching it again reminded me of what was so good about Jakob...hopefully you remember too...

Jakes Mom wanted me to post this photo of Jake at the fair.  He was missed at the Thanksgiving family dinner table.

It was nearly a year ago when Grandpa passed away; Jakob and Trevor tending to a cross in the streambed where Grandpa's ashes traveled.

In Sequoia, Jakob's mom and brother stop for a moment in a meadow near where Jakob's ashes were scattered.

Trevor scatters Jakob's ashes in the stream that was also Grandpa's final resting place.

Jakob and his cousins at Lake Hume

I took Jakob and his cousin to the Rock Gym when they were kids, it was so much fun...and we had breakfast at Hof's Hut.  I miss those days...

Thanks very much to Donna R who provided this beautiful photo, attempting to answer "Where did Jakob go?" because it looks like the hand of God in these beams of sunlight.

Hard to believe, that on August 17th Jakob was with us on our ceremony to scatter his grandpa's ashes in Sequoia.  He made a cross from sticks and reeds to place in the streambed where Dad's ashes were mixed.

Lauren, his cousin (age 17) wrote this poem and read it at Jakob's service Saturday.

I have to stop commenting on news blogs about this because I am coming across far too angry, accusatory about what has happened and what is being done by the CHP, etc.   All I want is the truth, and to know enough to sort out how I feel.   I do not want to blame CHP in any way or make people feel less inclined to be kind to the victims' family.

Wednsday night, October 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm there was a candlelight vigil for Jakob at a spot across from where he was hit. Many kind people came and shared their shock and grief with us, including some of the people that were there when it happened.

Big rigs hurtle past as mourners pray for Jakob.

Parents and friends grieve over Jakob's candles.

Praying at the vigil, a prayer for Jakob.

Candles for Jakob.

While at the corner across from where Jakob was killed we saw this Target truck coming and making its turn. We believe this is the same model Target truck that killed Jakob, and it made the same turn from the middle lane right on Del Amo.   There is a crosswalk where the SUV on the right is waiting.

From the corner where Jakob was killed, this truck turned and I photographed him making the entire turn to see where he was looking. From this vantage point (which is the best I had to see the driver's eyes) I can only see a small part of the driver's head. I am about 18 feet from the driver's door. The question is, what does a driver see when he's "scanning"?

 Jakob's funeral services are tomorrow October 4th, 11:00 AM at the Luyben-Dilday Family Mortuary in Long Beach.  Friends of Jakobs are welcome to this closed casket service. 

Please note that out of respect we wish to remember Jakob the way he was, not discuss the tragedy details.  This is a terrible time for the family.