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Obituary For Jacob Evan Martens
May 24, 2008 – December 8, 2023
Jacob Evan Martens, born May 24, 2008, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, passed peacefully at home in his mom and dad’s arms in the early hours of December 8, 2023.
Born at 24-weeks’ gestation, Jacob called the Royal Alexandra and Stollery Children’s Hospital home for the first year of his life. His mom, Alison, and his dad, Jim, rarely left his side.
After a year in Edmonton, Jacob came home to Grande Prairie to begin the next chapter of his life. Learning how to care for Jacob was a difficult but rewarding task for his parents and family.
There were many challenges for Jacob during the first five years of his life. Many, many emergency surgeries took place during this time. Throughout his ordeals, Jacob showed great strength and determination. Despite his rocky start in life, he enjoyed it to the fullest. It was an immense joy for his parents to watch him grow and develop with the support of many caring friends, family, and medical professionals.
Despite his challenges, Jacob enjoyed many things other children do. He was so grateful for the reprieve in illness and enjoyed almost a decade of better health than was ever thought achievable for him. He lived and loved with every fiber of his being, so very in the moment he gave little time to worry about the future and filled any room he was in with love.
He loved swimming and hot tubs, dipping his toes in the river, long walks in his wheelchair, rides on his bikes, being a member of his baseball team, going on six-wheeler rides with his Grandpa, firing a pellet gun, and cruising in his dad’s Thunderbird. He had a fierce love of music and treasured his dad’s guitar playing and singing. Jake especially loved when his grandmas Faye and Karen, sang to him. His four-legged friends always kept a watchful eye on him.
Like most teenage boys, Jacob’s bedroom was his “Fortress of Solitude.” It contained all his favourite things. He loved lights and music, and mom had his iPad sorted just the way he liked.
Jacob touched a lot of souls in his short life, creating special bonds with whomever spent even just a little time with him. His life was testimony to his courage and to the compassion of those who helped him along on his journey. In the last year Jacob fought very hard to stay with us all just as long as he could, but in the end his tired body failed his spirit, and he was so very ready to be free.
Jacob is survived by his mother Alison Annette (Sheldon Stogran) and father James Christopher Martens (Norma Tracy), his grandparents Karen Martens of Grande Prairie, and Faye and Don Cousins of Crooked Creek, as well as his aunts and uncles Tanya Cousins, Laurel Fitzsimmons, Melanie and Paul Williamson, and Cody Cousins. Jacob will be missed also by his cousins Emily and Brody Sanderson, Halle (Terrik Brennan), Ty and Tate Cousins, and many honorary aunties and uncles who have adopted him along the way.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider donating to a local charity in Jacob’s memory. The following organizations have had significant impact on Jacob’s life, and we want to help them keep doing their important work here in our community for others like Jacob.
Kev’s Kids here in Grande Prairie 100% of all proceeds go back into the community. Any other costs associated with Kev’s Kids are covered by 97.7 ROCK and not taken from donations. You can also mail donations to:
# 200, 9835 – 101 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 5V4.
Or use the online link below Jacob’s photo.
The Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society for future Pediatric Programming in memory of Jacob Martens, or by the link below Jacob’s photo.
Or of course the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation: In memory of Jacob Martens or by the link underneath Jacob’s photo.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Bear Creek Funeral Home, Grande Prairie, AB. For those unable to join in person, we invite you to attend virtually through the Livestream link below.
Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 bcfh.ca
Live Stream
24/05/2008 08/12/2023
Death notice for the town of: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta
death notice Jacob Evan Martens 24/05/2008 08/12/2023
obituaries notice Jacob Evan Martens 24/05/2008 08/12/2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jacob Evan Martens 24/05/2008 08/12/2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
