Gassen shares memories of fallen nephew

Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark Co., WI

December 15, 2010, Front Page

Gassen shares memories of fallen nephew

By Peter Spicer

Neillsville’s John Gassen has many great memories of his nephew, Jacob Gassen, 21, Beaver Dam, who recently died while serving the country in Afghanistan as a U. S. Army medic.

Jacob was born in La Crosse and is the son of Greg and Barb Gassen of Beaver Dam; John, who is married to Leiko Gassen, is Greg’s brother.

Many of John’s memories of Jacob are centered on Jacob’s hunting adventures. “[Jacob] loved to hunt,” remembered John. “He was a good shot.”

Jacob Gassen (l) and friend Mike Richardson poise in November 2009 with two six-point bucks they shot near Neillsville during last year’s gun deer season. Gassen, died Nov. 29 while serving as a medic with the U. S. Army in Afghanistan. Richardson, who is serving with the U. S. Marines, was the military guard for Gassen’s casket. (Contributed photo)

Although Jacob never lived in Clark County, he spent many days throughout his life visiting his Uncle John’s home during gun deer hunting season each November, starting when Jacob was just 12 years old. Jacob used a gun deer rifle that was passed from generation to generation, beginning with John’s mother, who began using the gun to deer hunt in about 1945.

John and his brother (Jacob’s father) Greg then used the rifle growing up and then passed it down to Jacob and one of his two brothers Christopher, who were avid deer hunters.

Jacob enjoyed hunting in Neillsville with his former Beaver Dam High School Classmate, Mike Richardson, who serves as a sniper in the U. S. Marines, said John.

“[Jacob] was a good kid,” said John, who has worked at the Neillsville Post Office for 18 years and plans to retire in the next couple months. John has lived in Neillsville since 1971; he also has three grown children, including one son, James, 33, and two daughters, Angela, 33, and Mayomi 42.

Jacob attended St. Jerome’s Catholic School in Columbus, Beaver Dam Middle School and graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 2008. Jacob attended UW-Oshkosh for one year and joined the U. S. Army in September 2009. He then completed basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and medic training at Fort Sam Houston, TX.

Jacob followed in his Uncle John’s footsteps by serving as a medic in Vietnam with the U. S. Air Force. John’s son, James, is now in the U. S. Air Force serving as a computer programmer.

Although Jacob’s last deer hunt was last year, serving the country in Afghanistan wasn’t enough to deter his interest in this year’s deer hunt.

Jacob called his uncle John’s Neillsville home Sunday, Nov. 28, from Afghanistan, a day before he died asking his father and John about the deer hunt, and what the Green Bay Packers score was.

Jacob was killed the next day, Monday, Nov. 29, just 10 days after his 21^st birthday; his funeral was held Thursday, Dec. 9, in Horicon. Jacob, whose brothers are Christopher and Jesse (both of Beaver Dam) had several relatives in Clark County, among them his aunt and uncle, Valerie and Bill Dahlke of Granton.

“[Jacob’s death] is just a shock,” said John. “He did a good job [with the U. S. Army], he was dedicated to his job.”

Richardson was the military guard for the casket, said John, who explained, “That’s quite an honor.”

The military will honor Jacob’s service with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. John may eventually consider placing a Legacy Stone at The Highground for his nephew but will wait until he comes to terms with Jacob’s death.

Bio: Gassen, Jacob (15 Dec. 2010)