Jacob Weeda died unexpectedly February 22, 2010 at the age of sixty-four in his home in Camarillo, California.
Jacob was born January 5, 1946 in Rozenburg, the Netherlands, to Daniel and Adriana Weeda. When he was two-years-old the family, which now included baby sister, Mieke, immigrated to the Unites States, settling in Bellflower, California. Two more sister, Elly and Flora, joined the family during the years spent in Bellflower. In 1956 the family purchased a dairy in Chino, California. Shortly after the move to Chino, brother Tony was born. Besides feeding the cows, young Jake filled his time with hunting squirrels, playing both piano and accordion, and honing his magic tricks. As a young man Jake loved cars, especially fast cars. He had a '57 TBird and a '65 GTO with a Nascar engine. He enjoyed reading science fiction, bowling, playing pool and listening to Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano and Charles Magnante on the accordion.
He graduated from Ontario Christian High School, attended Cal Poly Pomona, and graduated from Cal State Fullerton with Masters Degrees in Mathematics, Aeronautical Engineering, and Physics. Jake was an outstanding student, and he had a lifelong love of learning.
At age twenty-two, Jake was drafted into the army. He served in the infantry in Vietnam and later volunteered for service in the Air Cavalry in Vietnam as a gunner on a helicopter. He was the recipient of three Purple Hearts and numerous medals of commendation for his military service.
Jacob and Judith Elaine were married August 28, 1982.
Jake worked as an aeronautical engineer for Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas. Later he worked for General Dynamics in Corona, California and for a defense contractor performing missile testing at Point Mugu in California. With the end of the Cold War and the decrease in military spending, aeronautical engineers were no longer needed, so Jake and his wife Judy began a landscaping business in Camarillo, California.
Though Jake was a shy man, he loved people and valued relationships. He regularly telephoned family members, army buddies, and childhood friends. He was an intelligent, humble, kind thoughtful, fun-loving, loyal person who will be greatly missed.
Jacob is survived by his mother, Adriana Weeda of Ontario, California: his step-children; Cindy Baker and her family from Milan, Missouri, Matthew Collett and family from Loon Lake, Washington, Travis Collett and family from Camarillo, California, and Donald and Jennifer Weeda and family from Castle Rock, Colorado; his sisters Mieke and Ed Boschma and family from Tonopah, Arizona, Elly and Cecil Hilt and family from Wendell, Idaho, Flora and Harry Bokma and family from Buhl, Idaho; and his brother Tony and Vickie Weeda and family from Corona, California.
Jacob was preceded in death by his father, Daniel Weeda, on April 8, 1977 and by his wife, Judith Elaine on May 1, 2003.
Family members will gather in Milan, Missouri on May 1, 2010 for a private service where Jacob Weeda will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife Judy.
Just as I am Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
