April 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Doing what we love - a tribute to Jacob Friede
Doing what we love - a tribute to Jacob Friede
"Damn it," was the only response I could muster. The small solace in any of this, if there is any, as his life was certainly cut far too short, is that he was doing something he loved. From the time I met Jacob, when he came to The Times as a sports reporter, he was all about the outdoors. When I left last year, I knew he was a natural to take my place as outdoors reporter and I was so excited he would get to write about his passion. While I stayed on as a freelancer, I was more than happy to turn these pages over to Jacob, knowing they would be in great hands. And I believe they were.
I know he was nervous about taking over. He was concerned about knowing who to call about what topics and how to keep everything straight and not miss any of the great events related to the outdoors. We talked several times about different aspects of what I had done during my tenure as the outdoor reporter, but also that he could take it in his own direction and make it what he wanted it to be. I knew he would do well.
Jacob was always such an easy guy to talk to, and he had this curiosity and a wonder at the world around him that many people do not have. He was quick with a smile and would usually have a story to tell about some outdoor pursuit he recently enjoyed.
"Jacob always brightened my mood. He truly enjoyed being in the outdoors, and it showed in his columns," Holmes said of Jacob, after learning of his passing. "His talent with the pen drew me in, and I felt that I was in the boat with him, or was out in the field with him. He was an extremely talented writer, and an exceptional young man. I will truly miss him."
It is clear he had a major impact on not just me, but all of The Times staff. Even when Jacob first came to The Times and worked as a sports reporter, he made an impact on those around him, who saw and shared in his passion for sports.
"In working directly with Jacob, the thing that stood out to me most about him was his quizzical nature," Northwoods River News sports director Jeremy Mayo said. "He was not afraid to ask questions, to figure out how and why things worked the way they did in the sports world. He had a thirst for knowledge and a love of sports that showed through in his writing."
"However, there was no hiding that, above sports, Jacob loved the outdoors," Mayo continued. "He loved being in and a part of nature. When Jacob first sent us his resume, he wrote in his cover letter, 'the area of the job is also appealing as the outdoors are a dominant force in my life.' So when, in January of 2019, I was informed by management they were thinking of Jacob becoming the lead outdoors writer, I knew instantly that Jacob would jump at the opportunity. He had the chance to combine two of his passions - writing and the outdoors. That showed through in his stories, as well as his 'Natural Reaction' columns, which were smart, well-written and, most importantly, real."
"Circumstances led Jacob to return home, but I was looking forward to touching base with him again during the WNA Convention before it was postponed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Mayo said. "I regret I won't get that chance and will miss the genuine energy he brought during his time with us."
Lakeland Times news director Brian Jopek would often call Jacob "Radar," in the wintertime, he said, due to the head cover he would wear. Jopek said it reminded him of the helmet liner actor Gary Burghoff would wear on the M*A*S*H* TV show as Radar O'Reilly.
"He was quiet, a good guy and did some really good work for The Lakeland Times," Jopek said.
As I write this, I cannot believe this could have happened.
From what has been reported, Jacob went out fishing last Saturday on Spring Lake in Kingston. The Green Lake sheriff's office dive team found him around 12:30 p.m. in a marshy area in approximately three feet of water, face down near his overturned boat. According to his mother, Gail Linde, he was found wearing his life jacket and it is suspected he passed away due to hypothermia.
Linde said she felt a special bond with her son, who she described as a deep, deep thinker who loved solitude. At family gatherings, she said, everyone wanted to talk to him, to listen to his stories. As readers (and employees) of The Times, we, too, were able to take part and hear many of those stories, too. Readers of the Daily Citizen were also able to read many of his stories in his column entitled "Poorman's Back Forty," which ran from 2014 to 2017. Jacob was described by Linde as an avid reader, a lover of music, and a man with a heart of gold. Never had anyone seen him say a bad word about anyone, or to anyone, she said. To say Jacob will be missed would be an understatement. His family, friends and co-workers will surely miss his stories and adventures.
Again, the small solace we have is Jacob passed away while doing something he loved, and that rings especially true for me. I left The Times for more of a "corporate, 9-5" kind of job. But when Jacob left to go back to Beaver Dam, I was asked if I wanted to come back full time. Coming back to writing, and to living a life outdoors, is something that I love. It is easy to say we should live like it is our last day on Earth, and it is easy to forget that as life gets hectic and demands are placed upon us. Even "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life," seems trite and overused. But both are true. And if losing Jacob Friede could ever serve any purpose at all, I hope it is that we remember to take time to do the things we love, to find those things, and never let them go. Jacob, my friend, until we meet again, enjoy the woods and waters up above.
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