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Jake's memorial service was a testament to his
life. Below are exerpts of the people who spoke in his memory.
From Bob: There are three things that Jake's
death has put in my heart:
1) Our family
has no regrets. There were no unspoken words of love or hurt feelings.
2) You never know when life will be taken, NO one is guaranteed
much more than their next breath. Don't leave anything unsaid
or undone with those you love.
3.) There are things in my own life that I realize I should rectify.
I pray that God will give me the strength to do those.
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From Johnathan:
There are so many memories of Jake
that I have talked for hours and could talk for years more.
I will never forget my older brother. I know for sure that he
would want everyone here to know everything about him that we
admired came from his faith in God. Jacob is a man of God, he
had his faults but none of us are perfect. He loved God and desired
to do God’s will. He carried the Green New Testament around
with him everywhere. He had it with him when he had the accident.
He would daily spend time with God and that was what made him
the man he was.
It is such a blessing that even though we had
our fights and arguments, what brothers don’t, that we never
doubted the love we had for each other. Jacob started a tradition
in our family that continues to this day, and I know will include
our extended family. Every time we talk on the phone or go to
bed or chat on instant messenger at the end of the conversation
we always say, “I love you, goodnight/goodbye.” It
doesn’t matter who was around we just say it. I remember
a time when I had a conversation with Jake on the phone and I
was in the car with a friend, I ended the conversation and said,
“I love you, Bye.” My friend asked who I was talking
to and I told him my brother, he asked me how old he was and I
said 26. I told him that it is just something we do and he said
“That is really cool.” So, I guess I would hope that
if you don’t already every time you talk to someone you
love tell them, let them know.
Jacob also showed his love to us by giving us
surprises and gifts. He loved being able to buy things for us.
One Christmas we bought my mom a couch and chair for the living
room, the three of us had so much fun bringing it in and setting
it up and feeling like “Santa.” He bought me this
watch for graduation and my birthday. Out side in the foyer you
may have seen the framed American Flag. Jacob had that framed
for us as a Christmas surprise. He finished it early and was so
proud he told us all that he had a Christmas present for us under
his bed. The plaque underneath reads:
Dad, Mom, Grandmother Doris, Johnathan, and
Joshua
Thank you for your support, your teachings,
your influences, your love, your gifts, your prayers, and your
faith. This flag flew in the face of a world enemy over gun truck
Aggie '01 during operation Iraq Freedom II and III, as a proud
son, grandson, brother, American, Texan, and a Siefert.
We felt that that says everything about Jake and
our family that we wanted everyone to know. No one can say it
better than Jacob.
One last thing, the song that has been playing
in my head is “I can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. I
would sing it but I think I will keep that for the shower and
the car. So I want to read one line:
Surrounded by Your Glory, what
will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of you, be still?
Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
While we can only imagine Jacob knows, and that
is a source of great peace for us.
From Alan Kanis As I flew back to Houston I tried
to find the right words that would be comforting and loving and
sincere that might provide a moment of relief to Janet and Bob
and the rest of the family, but was unable to. Instead,
I decied to selfishly reflect on the happy
memories Jacob provided me.
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Jake was able to help other through his
death -- Somewhere there may be a kid who still has his
leg despite the cancer because Jake's strong bone took the place
of. the diseased tissue or maybe a burn victim has a better chance...
Donor Alliance.
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We believe the best way to live life is to give
love. Jake believed that as well. It
is our intention through this trajedy to strive to exemplify that
in all we do. That is our prayer and our heart. We will seek God's
guidance in the best way to accomplish this. We have no words
to express all the love and care that have been shown in letter,
deed, and prayer from the many people who have consoled us, other
than thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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Jake always wanted to give to other people.
He was always thinking of ways to be the one to give someone a
start and then back away and let them run with the opportunity.
We have prayed and diligently considered
the best way to honor his life that would be in keeping with what
he thought would be valuable to others on this earth. In Jake's
memory, the Jacob S. Siefert '01 Memorial Corps Chaplain
Endowed Scholarship, which will be used to fund a scholarship
in his name, at his alma mater, Texas A&M. The Aggie Spirit
was one of the things that played an important role in Jake's
life. This scholarship seems to be one way we might accomplish
for him, a very real goal of his, helping others. These funds
will be used to support a student scholarship. Jake was the Chaplain
for A-1, and the scholarship will provide for both physical and
spiritual aid to a young student chaplain. Contributions
should be sent to Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive,
College Station, Texas 77840-2811. In the memo line write, Jacob
Samuel Siefert. Other questions you may contact Johnathan Siefert,
832-606-2934.
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When you remember Jake, remember that he all you knew
of him, the good, the bad, all of him, was because of his love
for God, his Father. Packed in his backpack on this last
hunting trip was his little green New Testament. He carried it
every where, so quietly he carried it, you might never known how
much it meant to him unless you happened upon it on his beside
or caught him with it, his head bowed. It spent many daily moments
with God, to read and recieve God's direction. peace, and love.
Jake always wanted to give to other people. He
was always thinking of ways to be the one to give someone a start
and then back away and let them run with the opportunity. We have
prayed and diligently considered the best way to honor his life
that would be in keeping with what he thought would be valuable
to others on this earth. WE hope that the Jacob Samuel Siefert
Scholarship fund will do that.
A few last things need to be said concerning this
time in our life. Death makes you consider existance after death.
There are those that ask why. And as many people that might read
this, there will be that many different thoughts and doubts or
beliefs or answers to those questions. But this one thing if for
certain, no matter what your philosophy might be, people who have
a relationship with God, a higher power, a creator, are not just
thinking about what life is after death or why bad things happen..
God's kingdom is on this earth as well, and Jake, as well as us,
know, KNOW, how strong that power is. If you see any merit in
our lives, if you saw any merit in Jake's, if you see merit in
my other two sons who are also God's men, you must attribute it
to a daily walk with Him who provided power and wisdom and direction.
This grace and love that comes only from God has been exemplified
by the enourmous outpouring of support and help from a community
of friends and family that can only be described as wonderous.
Later, we will thank them individually, but right now we will
only thank God for His Kingdom on earth.
God, grant us the serenity to accept
the things we cannot chance, the courage to change the things
that we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen |
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