Jacob "Jake" Gardner

"So you will understand when I say, 'Death is that state in which one exists only in the memory of others...
which is why it is not an end.' No goodbyes. Just good memories. Hailing frequencies closed, sir."

The family of Jacob "Jake" Gardner mourn the sudden passing of an amazing brother and steady "go-to-guy." Jake was born at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1985 and attended Brantwood Elementary (Riverside, Ohio), Steerman Elementary (Wichita, Kansas), Mad River Middle School, Spinning Hills Junior High School, and Stebbins High School. He earned the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow and the rank of Life Scout. While in high school, Jake was on the ROTC drill team, acted as the unit armorer for his last three years of high school, and played the trombone and tuba in the Stebbins High School marching band. After graduating from Stebbins High School in the Class of 2003, he attended Sinclair Community College, became a Brown Belt in Judo, and joined the team at Sam's Club Beavercreek, where he worked for 18 years.

He loved building Gundam models and old guns with his dad, watching anime and westerns, and knowing everything about Star Trek and Star Wars. He exceled at creating cosplay costumes: his self-designed Star Trek uniform received praise from William Shatner. His family loved traveling together to comic conventions and festivals like Guns of August, Friendship, and the Fair at New Boston. He was an amazing caregiver for his younger siblings and family. He enjoyed quiet time and time together with his family (which is rarely quiet!). He was looking forward to proudly watching his youngest brother finish basic training and joining his oldest sister on a trip to Galaxy's Edge at Disney World.

Jake is survived by his loving parents Jeffrey and Barbara (Artman) Gardner, siblings Jennifer, Jessica, Jayne, Jeanette, and Joshua Gardner, grandmothers Reatha Artman and June Gardner, Aunt Sharon Dias, Uncle Jon & Aunt Candy Gardner, Uncle Bill and Aunt Nicole Artman, and Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Jon Meeker, and close extended family of cousins in Riverside, Ohio, Providence, Rhode Island, and Seattle, Washington. He is preceded in death by both grandfathers, Thomas Glenn Artman and Harry William Gardner.

No goodbyes. Just good memories.

To share a memory of Jake or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.