Lance Corporal Jacob Alexander Meinert USMC was killed in action Jan. 10, 2010, in Bastion, Afghanistan.
He was born on June 24, 1989, in Racine. He attended Red Apple Elementary School and Jerstad Agerholm Middle School in Racine before moving to Fort Atkinson.
Jacob graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 2007.
He entered the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot in San Diego, Calif., graduating with platoon 2167. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Jacob completed one tour of duty in Iraq and was currently serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
His hobbies included fishing, sailing and a variety of musical outlets. He enjoyed the time spent with his friends.
Survivors include his mother, Krista (Michael) Edquist of Fort Atkinson. He leaves at home a sister, Randi Meinert; stepbrother, Mitchell Edquist; brother, Larson Edquist; the family dog, Bosco; father, Brian Warzala; maternal grandparents, Richard (Donna) Meinert; a paternal grandfather, Robert Warzala; paternal grandmother, Darlene Warzala; three aunts, Michele (David) Breheim, Sheryl (Bob) Petersen and Pam (Nathan Schulz) Warzala; and uncle, Ben Warzala, all of Racine.
He also is survived by many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd., Fort Atkinson, with full military honors. Family and friends may pay their respects at the church on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Jacob Meinert Jazz Band Memorial, c/o Edward Jones Investments, 101 S. Main St., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.
Fort Atkinson bid farewell Wednesday to Lance Cpl. Jacob “Jake” A. Meinert, who was killed Jan. 10 in Afghanistan. Funeral serviceswere held at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Pictured above, Meinert’s mother, Krista Edquist, surrounded by her husband Mike and Meinert’s siblings – Larson Edquist, Randi Meinert and Mitchell Edquist – received an American flag from U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Timothy Branaman. Below, a Marine honor guard escorts Meinert’s casket into the church past St. Joseph’s pupils lining the entryway.
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