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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.