Jessica Acker
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- Category: Obituaries
- Created on Tuesday, 24 February 2015 10:58
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Jessica Lynn Acker, 33, died on Feb. 8, doing what she loved – hiking the mountains of Alaska.
Jessica was so dedicated to living fully and passionately that she had the word “live” tattooed across her back.
She was born April 21, 1981, in Madison, Wis., the daughter of Robert Acker and Rita Acker. She graduated in 1999 from Waunakee Community High School. She studied biology and French at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 2004. She was president of UW’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and for her extraordinary leadership she received the Copper Hammer Award. She also received the highest honor for undergraduate service with induction into the UW’s Iron Cross Society.
After college Jessica moved to Alaska to work as an observer in the fisheries industry. She fell in love with the state’s wild places and relished hiking, berry-picking, fishing and viewing wildlife. In her career and in her life she strove to always learn new things and grow as a person. Her adventurous spirit also led her to travel abroad, including multiple stays in France.
Her curiosity led her to explore the world around her, but also to express genuine interest in the lives of the people she met. This, along with her capacity for empathy and her contagious sense of humor, made her a fast friend. People scattered far and wide considered her one of their closest friends. She also was always loyal to her beloved family, returning home between adventures.
Jessica is survived by her parents, Rita Acker (Mike Kelley) and Robert Acker (Susan Attewell), both of Waunakee; her brother, Jared (Alicia) of Edgerton; her sister, Melissa, of Chicago; her grandparents, Willard and Pearl Schumann, of Mazomanie, and Dolores Acker, of Middleton; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Leander Acker.
While in Sitka, Jessica enjoyed hiking, running, attending lectures and events, meeting new people, and enjoying the area’s natural beauty. She leaves behind many dear friends in Sitka, and throughout Alaska.
The family suggests memorials in honor of Jessica be made to Habitat for Humanity, or the Sitka Trail Works.
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20 YEARS AGO
November 2004
Sitka will observe Veterans Day with a parade, a luncheon and a banquet. All are invited to help carry the large garrison flag, on loan from the Elks Lodge, said Bill Aragon, of the parade sponsor American Legion Post 13. After the parade veterans are invited to a noon luncheon at the ANB Hall. The Veterans Day banquet, sponsored by Tlingit-Haida of Sitka, will be at Centennial Hall.
50 YEARS AGO
November 1974
Representatives from Sitka attending the state-federal fisheries rehabilitation plan meeting are Larry Calvin, sport fishermen; Joe Siebert, Southeast Alaska Trollers Association; Bob Wyman, seafood processing industry; and Carl Kerr, purse seiners.