Family, friends and teachers are remembering Jacob Donald DesJardins as a youth with a passion for outdoor activity and a zest for life.
Jacob died July 13, from an accidental drowning in the family’s backyard pool at their Waterford Township home.
He was 11.
‘He got up every morning dug his own worms and went fishing in the summer,? said Elizabeth DesJardins mother of Jacob. ‘He was a happy, funny kid who recently presented me with a big snapping turtle he caught. He will be dearly missed.?
Helen Clemetsen, principal at Harvey-Swanson Elementary School where Jacob attended from kindergarten through fourth grade says Jacob was looking forward to attending Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School in the fall.
‘My heart is heavy with sadness, our school community has lost two of our special students within the last three weeks. Losing Jacob so suddenly has been such a shock to all who knew him at our school.?
‘Jacob was a nice young man with a caring heart who tried hard in school. He had the best smile that would light up a room. Jacob will be greatly missed by myself, all his teachers, and many friends that he made while attending school at Harvey-Swanson Elementary.?
Ortonville resident Don Mascot, grandfather of Jacob, recalls an active, loving grandson.
‘He was your average energetic boy that likes to do all the normal things boys want to do,? said Mascot. But the greatest personality trait of Jacob was that he loved all kids, it didn’t matter the age, he treated them all as his best friend.?
‘Jacob was ‘all boy,? a little spark plug who often pushed the envelope, especially with me on our Jet Ski out in Houghton Lake,? Mascot added. ‘Still, fishing was his passion especially on Loon Lake in Waterford or the Muskegon River he’d love to go down there to fish.?
Cheri Venturino, was Jacob’s kindergarten teacher at Harvey-Swanson, and a former Brandon High School classmate of Elizabeth DesJardins mother of Jacob.
‘Beth brought Jacob to me in kindergarten through School of Choice,? said Venturino. ‘It was such an honor to have him in my classroom.?
‘Jacob always had his Game Boy with him. He played it during the 20 minute drive to and from Waterford each school day,? said Venturino. ‘I found it the other day, it was well loved and had all the markings of being well-used.?
‘He love nature and playing always had his Game Boy, it was always, it was a 20 drive from Ortonville to Waterford, I found the game it was well loved, it was worn, it had all the markings of being well-used.?
A funeral Mass was celebrated for Jacob DesJardins on Monday, July 17 at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, Waterford.