John Michael Jacobs

In a heartbreaking parting, we bid farewell to a cherished soul who embarked on countless epic quests within the realms of imagination. Beloved son, brother, uncle and friend; he has concluded his final journey.

John Michael Jacobs was born October 24, 1969, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He lived in many places with his family until settling in Dayton, WY at the age of 13. He graduated from Tongue River High School in 1988. He joined the Naval Reserves during high school and served while he attended college in Spearfish, SD. He held many jobs through his years but some of his favorite ones included shaping young minds as a teacher and managing a deli in Boise Idaho where he perfected the art of his favorite sandwich, the muffaletta. One of his favorite places to be was in the kitchen, whipping up anything from his famous Easter ham to his decadent many meats and cheese lasagna or throwing delicious, marinated ribeye steaks and chicken on the grill. He was a true foodie and loved trying new recipes whenever he got the chance! He never met a burger he didn’t like, and he absolutely loved his sister Erin’s deviled eggs and asked for them to be at every family gathering! He loved spending time exploring the mountains, bird watching with his close friends and playing games of frisbee golf and going on taco dates with his niece. A viking at heart, he took his Norwegian heritage seriously and studied the Norwegian language for years! He was so proud of himself for learning the language and never missing any lessons.

With a heart filled with wonder, he devoured tales of paladins, druids, wizards, and mythical lands, finding solace in the magic of words. In his free time, he loved writing books and had such an amazing knack for bringing characters to life! His love for the fantastical inspired generations, and his absence leaves a void in the pages of our lives. He enjoyed playing dungeons and dragons and world of war craft with his friends and will be missed by all he rolled dice with through the years.

He leaves behind many loving family members including his parents, Sheila and Gary Van Meter, sister Erin Phillips (Tom), sister Dawn Jacobs (Norbert), nephews Freddie Treibt (Kimberly), Chris Treibt (Heidi) and Michael Phillips (Lauren), niece Megan Bomgardner (Dennon), 7 great nephews, 2 great nieces and several wonderful friends who have stuck by his side through all of his ups and downs. His pride and joy for the last 8 years is his beautiful black cat, Bella. They shared the most incredible bond and spoiling her was his favorite past time.

His smiles were few and far between, but he saved the most genuine ones for those closest to him. Though his time here with us was shorter than most, his inspiration and impact on those around him was significant and lasting. Rest in peace, dear traveler. May your favorite tales be your eternal companions on your journey to Valhalla.

A Memorial for family and close friends will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.