Jacob "Jake" Westmaas was born in Cadillac, Michigan, to Andy Westmaas and Penny Stilson

Westmaas, and was joined by a sister, Rachel Westmaas, in 1996. Jake lived in northern

Michigan and in Grand Rapids, and graduated from Northern Michigan Christian in McBain, MI

and from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. In 2020 he married Sydney Bonner, and

they lived together in Grand Rapids with their beloved dogs Sarah and Kaiba and cat "Boo Boo.".

As a boy, Jake grew to love the northern Michigan outdoors, sports and games with friends and

classmates, and music. He was a worship leader at church, and as time went on, he easily picked

up any instrument and quickly learned how to play it. He became an accomplished musician as

he grew up. As he grew older these loves continued to grow. With his dad, sister, friends and

other family members he joined in the annual November deer hunt. On opening day mornings,

he could often be found in a deer blind on his Grandpa Westmaas' 40 acres in Missaukee

County or on their lease in Evart. He was often successful, and in this past November's hunt

took down a nice ten-point buck sitting in the blind with his Dad. Jake would say his favorite

part of hunting though was hanging out with family in the Big Woods. Jake participated in 4

team sports in high school, and afterwards worked as a referee for community and school

basketball leagues. He continued to play disc golf through the years. Jacob loved camping out

on the family property and at music festivals, where he enjoyed bonfires, music and late-night

talks with friends and cousins. He was an accomplished and seasoned hiker, and had goals to

conquer the Michigan leg of the North Country Trail and had a good head start on it. In his early

school days Jake participated in vocal and instrumental music, and played or sang for school,

family and church events. He developed a special love for stringed instruments, settling on

guitar first, and later on the mandolin. As an adult, Jake's tastes and talents developed to the

point where he was composing, playing and recording music on different instruments and

electronic devices. A lot of his work can be found on Spotify under Dune Sleeper.

In 2016 Jacob met Sydney Bonner, also a staff alum of SpringHill, and soon they became quite

close. They shared a love for being outdoors, for the natural world, and a sensitivity to the

needs of others. They were able to find in each other true life partners and were married in an

outdoor ceremony on the Westmaas family property in 2020. They continued to experience the

wonders of nature and the outdoors and undertook a landmark van trip to the West Coast,

stopping to visit national parks along the way. Their long term plans were to establish a small

farm with animals to provide care for autistic kids and other kids with disabilities.

Jacob always supported and loved his wife, family and friends despite serious mental health

challenges, including Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Disorder. Jacob's suffering was always a

challenge, but he fought hard with the help of counselors, psychiatrists, medication, family and

friends to manage the diseases. He was usually able to maintain a sense of place, purpose and

was surrounded with good people as he lived out his life. At family gatherings he would share

stories, join in music-making during holiday times, and listen carefully to what others had to say.

As a husband, son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin or friend, he could be counted on to

express his desire for others to be their best selves, and to encourage those who were down.

Jacob is survived by his wife, Sydney Westmaas, his mom, Penny Stilson Westmaas, his dad,

Andy Westmaas and stepmom Michele Westmaas, his dear sister, Rachel Westmaas, and by

step-siblings Taylor Voss, Emily (Josiah) Granger, and Sarah Voss, as well as three step-nephews.

Also mourning him are dear grandparents Jerry and Marlene Stilson, aunts Sherry Stilson Yeager

and Linda Stilson, uncle Rob (Darlene) Stilson and a number of Stilson cousins. His uncle Joel

(Loralee) Westmaas, and aunts Heidi (Peter) Eliot, and Amy (Dean Smallegan) as well as many

Westmaas cousins also hold Jake dear. Two of his grandparents, Rich and Evelyn Westmaas have

both gone on to Heaven ahead of our dear Jake.

Jake's sudden death has taken a sweet and sensitive man from us. In this life he gave us much

joy through his many passions and talents, but he suffered pain too, and we who still love him

suffered with him. While we cannot bring him back into this life, we believe that he is now free

from suffering, in a place without pain, where joy is complete. Please join us in praying for

family and friends, who will grieve and mourn this most difficult loss until we are all reunited in

eternal joy and peace.

There will be a service in celebration of Jacob's life at 12 noon this Sunday December 17th at

Cascade Fellowship Church, 6655 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids MI 49546. All the events are in

the Lower Level of the church. Visitation 12-1, service 1-2 and light meal and fellowship 2-3. All

are invited to join with family as we express our love for Jake and our gratitude to God for what

he meant to us.