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Jamie Jaenke

IOWA FALLS, Iowa. Iowa’s first female to die in the Iraq conflict was buried Wednesday after hundreds of mourners packed a small church in her hometown of Iowa Falls to remember the sailor’s life.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime Jaenke, 29, was killed June 5 when her Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb in the Al Anbar province.

She was buried in Alden, leaving behind a 9-year-old daughter and other family who described the Navy reservist as a caring woman.

“Jaime is without a doubt the kind of person the world will miss,” said Tifani Eisentrager, Jaenke’s cousin. “Jaime’s life, without a doubt, was taken too soon. We mourn her death and will always remember her fondly.” Jaenke was activated in January and had been serving as a paramedic in Iraq for less than three months before her death. She was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 at Fort McCoy, Wis. Her unit was involved in reconstructing the country, building infrastructure such as schools and wells.

“She was caring and giving. Those are the type of people you want to be around you,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Esteban Burgoa, who trained with Jaenke for a couple weeks in California before being deployed in March.

“If there is someone you want to be friends with in life, she’s it.” Burgoa watched with tear-filled eyes as Jaenke’s family and close friends released red, white and blue balloons on Wednesday. It was his second funeral in less than 24 hours. Petty Officer 1st Class Gary Rovinski of Roseville, Ill., died in the same attack and was buried Tuesday.

Recalling how Jaenke once cared for his injured hand, Burgoa said: “Gosh, she’s just like an angel.” Several of Jaenke’s medals were given to her parents during an awards ceremony at the funeral. She received the Purple Heart and Navy Marine Corp. Commendation Medal with “V” for valor, Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal and a combat action ribbon. Jaenke completed 25 missions in Iraq, safely escorting 375 personnel.

Jaenke had been volunteering as an emergency medical technician in Ellsworth, Wis., before moving back to Iowa Falls in July to run the family’s horse training facility. She also enrolled in the nursing program at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls.

“Her dream was to be a nurse,” Eisentrager said. “She did what she loved doing, which is help others and serve her country.” Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jaime S. Jaenke of Bay City, Wis., lived in Iowa Falls during her early childhood but graduated from a high school in Wisconsin. She had only recently returned to Iowa after living for years in Minnesota and was excited about starting an equestrian business in Iowa Falls when she returned from Iraq. Before joining the Naval Reserves, Jaenke worked as an emergency medical technician in Ellsworth, Wis., where she was a great service to the community.

Jaime is survived by her daughter Kayla, her parents Larry and Susan Jaenke, 3 brothers; Garrett Jaenke, Ryan Jaenke and Justin Jaenke, also special friend Weldon Ubben. Great grandmother Edna Allen, and grandparents Don and Darlene Pommrehn. She was preceded in death by grandparents Walter and Hilda Jaenke and great grandparents Carroll and Edna Hackbarth and Arthur and Leona Pommrehn. She was 29.

Navy
Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion 25,
Fort McCoy, Wis.

Flags located at all state facilities will be flown at half-staff today to honor Navy Reservist Jaime Jaenke who was killed on duty last week.

Jaenke died when her Hummer was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The Bay City sailor lost her life in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and will be laid to rest today.

Jaenke was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 based at Fort McCoy. Her unit was activated in January and sent overseas in March. Jaenke is the mother of a nine-year-old girl. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime Jaenke, 29, of Bay City, WI, died June 5, 2006, as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Doc Jaenke was assigned to Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 25 out of Ft. McCoy, WI, but she had moved back to Iowa Falls, IA, in July, 2005.

She is survived by a daughter who will not have access to her mother’s insurance until her 18th birthday because current law makes no provision for the minor children of single mothers. For at least eight years, this child will need to rely on her retired grandparents – one of whom is disabled. Legislation to address this issue has been held in Committee in both Chambers of Congress for four years.

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Bay City
06/05/2006
Age: 29
Incident Location: Anah, Iraq
Branch: Navy
Rank: Petty Officer 2nd Class
Unit: Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25
Units Base: Fort McCoy, Wisconsin