Posted on 09/10/2004 11:26:05 PM PDT by LostThread
To All our Friends of Free Republic.....
I'd like to take this moment to ask for prayers... Brave Man and I lost our 16 yr old Son Jacob in a fatal car accident this evening......We need prayers for strength, and need prayers for Jacob's friend who was injured....
Such a tragedy! I can't think of anything that could be worse. God bless you and your family during this time.
My prayers go out to you. May God comfort you in you tragic loss, and may the love of friends and the memory of your dear son sustain you through this terrible time.
My heart breaks for your family. I will keep you all in our prayers. May God comfort and bless you all in the many difficult days before you. God is your strength and we will pray He will wrap His arms around you all.
Thought everyone might like to read about their wonderful son, Jacob.
Teen dreamed of making career in biking
Loved ones grieve loss in car crash
By Kelly Wells
kwells@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 12, 2004
One day soon, Karen Gosselin will pick up her son's school pictures. The photos will show a grinning 16-year-old with his whole life ahead of him. Her heart will break again.
When it came time for Greenfield High School students to have their pictures taken for the year, Gosselin wasn't even sure her son should order photos. He was getting older, after all, but they still had last year's picture, which had turned out beautifully.
But the teenager, using his charm and wit, persisted, and the mother relented. Now she cannot fathom trying to dissuade him.
Jacob Gosselin died Friday in a two-vehicle crash at S. 35th St. and W. Rawson Ave. in Franklin. The boy driving the car was his best friend, 17-year-old Matthew Konrad, who was injured but is expected to recover, police said. Their car struck a utility pole after colliding with the other car about 3:30 p.m.
Two people in the other car were also injured, but their conditions have not been released. Police said Sunday the crash remains under investigation.
The boys were on their way to after-school jobs at McDonald's in Franklin.
Karen Gosselin also works at the restaurant, and she said she knew something was wrong when the boys were late for their shifts. A short time later, after she had returned home from her shift, a Franklin police officer came to the family's Greenfield home to break the news.
Now, as the family grieves, Jacob's friends from work and school offer support.
The marquee sign at McDonald's reads: "In Our Hearts Forever Jacob Gosselin."
"He was a great guy, very cheerful," McDonald's manager B.J. Nelson said Sunday. "He'll be missed."
Jacob's parents said the teen had lots of interests, including a passion for extreme biking. He and his friends loved to do tricks on their trusty BMX cycles, and Jacob dreamed of one day making a career of it.
"He loved biking. He would always crash and get hurt but get right back up," said Rebecca Gosselin, Jacob's sister. "He was known for that."
Perry Gosselin said his son's friends have been stopping at the family's house since the accident, offering prayers and comfort. On Saturday, he said, about 100 teens gathered at the crash site for a candlelight vigil.
A half-dozen empty Mountain Dew cans were arranged next to a utility pole, in honor of Jacob's soft drink of choice.
"It helps," Perry Gosselin said of the gestures made by friends. "I have been surprised at how popular he was in school. He had a lot of friends - it's been non-stop with people coming over."
Still deep in mourning, the family stresses the need to extend the same level of support to Matthew Konrad.
"It's very important to us that prayers are sent for Matthew. They were very close friends," Karen Gosselin said.
Another source of comfort, Karen Gosselin said, comes from two women. She only knows their first names - Heidi and Kim - and has never met them, but they are often in her thoughts. Gosselin was told the two women comforted and held Jacob in the minutes before he slipped away. She hopes one day to contact them.
"We are so thankful to them," Gosselin said. "It's very special that they were there, that someone was with Jacob. That's very important to me."
Tissue, bones donated
As the initial shock lessens, the Gosselins will look to the future. They donated Jacob's tissue and bones at the urging of Rebecca and are hopeful the donations will help others.
In addition to his parents and sister, Jacob is survived by grandparents Carl and Bev Kasprzyk and Edward and Barbara Gosselin, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Max A. Sass & Sons, 4747 S. 60th St. in Greenfield, with services to follow.
May it soothe you to know that your beloved son is being gently welcomed, and that you are being thought of with caring prayers for a peaceful heart.
Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâces, le Seigneur est avec vous,
Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes, et Jésus le fruit de vos entrailles est béni.
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs,
maintenant, et à l'heure de notre mort.
Ainsi-soit-il.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Prays sent for you and yours.
God bless your entire family and may he surround you with the strength you will need to endure this time. Keep the faith and look to Him for comfort. Amen.
STILL IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
I am so sorry. My wife and I just ran across this thread. We are hitting our knees and praying the HE will give you strength.
Praying a BUMPing FRiend.
I'm deeply saddened by your loss. You all are in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss. We will all be praying that God will wrap his arms around you and comfort you during this terrible loss. Love and Prayers......
Heartfelt prayers
My prayers are with you and your family.
I cannot imagine. I have a 16 year-old son myself. God knows your sorrow and pain. May he comfort you and give you peace
So sorry. I know what you are going through. God Bless you and know that my prayers are with you.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My cousin was also killed in car wreck about the same age. My prayers for you and your family.
Many people have said that there are no words good enough in a horrible tragedy such as this, and I agree. I liked the words of georgiabelle, who said "You are going through every parents nightmare and each and everyone of us grieves with you".
Nightmares shouldn't come true, dammit.
I think we CAN grieve with you because we are parents, just as you have grieved for others who have experienced the same. I hope you can find some comfort in the number of people who are praying for you,thinking of you.
As for me, I love you like a sister,and I am offering extra prayers for everyone affected. May you find peace and comfort knowing you aren't alone.
Prayers.
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