Life Sketch from Jacob's sister Kirsten

This is the Life Sketch of Jacob Clyde Robertson, that I, Kirsten shared at his memorial service in Orem, Utah.

About six weeks ago, the Robertson siblings received word from Jordan that Jacob’s cancer had progressed to the point that  no further treatments could be possible. As such, she asked us to come to Phoenix to be with Jacob one last time. It was a bittersweet time. As we all sat together, the conversation turned to Jacob and all his great qualities.  Then someone remarked, “Jacob, we wouldn’t want to make you out to be perfect.” Then with his trademark eyebrow raise and sly smile he joked, “yes, I do.” Just so you know, Jacob in my eyes is just about perfect.

Jacob Clyde Robertson’s life began on April 4th, 1979, some six weeks after his due date! His mother and father, Barbara Clyde Robertson and John Steven Robertson, were delighted to add a new baby boy into their growing family which already included two sons, Steven and Christian.  As a little boy, Jacob as described by my mother, “had a sweet temperament...but he could be a little mischievous” One morning as she was making bread the phone rang, as she talked the boys dipped both hands into the flour and started throwing it all over the kitchen. In those days the phone was still attached to the wall, so she couldn’t stop them. What a mess!

Luckily, he decided to use this new found energy and put it into sports. Oh, how Jacob loved sports! As the family grew now adding James, me, Jen and Matt; Jacob now not only had new teammates, but also took on the role as coach. He taught us to play, basketball, baseball, football, tennis, and some lacrosse and golf.  Jacob often made it known that he did not want me throwing like a girl. In high school he played lacrosse and tennis. But of course, throughout his life there was nothing he loved more than attending his BYU football games.  Last season he made it to four games and diligently followed the team the rest of the season.

When Jacob was in the fourth grade we moved to Guatemala while my Dad conducted research. While a attending a local school Jacob easily made many friends through the language of soccer. Soon they discovered his athleticism and nicknamed him “Diego Maradona,” one of the most famous soccer players to ever play.  And more than once did he protected me from Neto, my class bully. Jacob loved his sister.

Jacob also developed other talents: taking piano lessons, singing in the Orem High Show Choir and playing bass in a band with Christian and their friends. The Beans McGee Militia even played a few gigs at a local establishment. He was on the debate team, which helped prepare him for his future career as a lawyer.

Jacob always excelled in school, whether attending Cascade elementary, La escuela mixta, santa lucia milpas altas in Guatemala, Northridge Elementary School, Canyon View Jr. High, Oak Canyon Jr. High, and Orem High School. Right before graduation Jacob took a trip to Guatemala with his Dad, he relates:

“We left the day after my last AP test, and I missed the two weeks of senior fun. We were in the highlands by Chiquimula right on the Honduras border. I mostly wanted to go because I got gypped out of going to see the Tikal ruins when I was 10. We were going to work for two weeks and spend the last few days touring the ruins. After one week of hard work, we got a behind the scenes tour of an archeological site called Copan given by one of my dad’s friends from the University of Texas who was heading up the site. While there I got bit by a mosquito. I got a horrible fever and ended up with dengue fever. I thought I was going to die that night, but my dad gave me a blessing. I laid in bed a whole week while my dad finished up his research. Because I felt so crappy we couldn’t go see the sites. I also had to miss my senior trip to Lake Powell with my friends, but I felt just well enough to walk for graduation.”

After graduation from Orem High School, Jacob attended BYU for one year serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He recalls, “I got my mission call in March 1998. After Guatemala, I always wanted to return there or to Latin America because I already spoke Spanish. After my dengue fever experience, I wanted to go Spanish-speaking but had no desire to return to Latin America. Fortunately, the Lord called me to Madrid, Spain.” He served an honorable mission and participated in the Open House and Dedication of the Madrid Temple.

Upon his return little did Jacob know how much his life would change when he chose to participate in Washington Seminar, a program at BYU in Washington, DC. Not only did he gain valuable work experience as an intern, but it was there he met his future wife, Jordan Romney.  When he returned from Washington in December of 2001, we talked about a lot of things including a girl named Jordan. He told me he was so discouraged because she was going on a mission. They didn’t date before she left, but continued to be friends.  Jacob claims he didn’t wait for her, but I know that he did because when each letter arrived you could see his face light up. That summer he worked as an EFY counselor and soon their friendship turned into a romance.

That same year he graduated from BYU with honors and started law school at SJ Quinney School of Law at the University of Utah. A classmate recently wrote " The S. J. Quinney College of Law is an incredibly diverse place, but I cannot think of a single person at the law school who did not like and admire Jake. Jake was never outspoken or loud in class, but everyone knew that he was one of the brightest students in our class (which he was). He was one of the best ambassadors for BYU at the school. I didn't spend a lot of time with him, because I think we were both studying a lot and tied down with other responsibilities, but he was one of the guys I admired as a colleague. He was smart, civil, articulate, respectful of others, and a hard worker. He represented everything that was and is good about the legal profession." That hard work payed off and he landed a coveted job at Perkins-Coie where he worked until last year. He loved being a lawyer.

Jacob courted Jordan during his first year of law school. Because Jordan had one more year at BYU, Jacob drove to Provo every weekend to date Jordan. It didn’t take long before talk turned to marriage. As Jacob tells it: “Jordan and I got engaged over Christmas in the middle of my first year. There was a spark between us in DC but it wasn’t the right time. She needed to go on a mission. I needed to learn how not to be so awkward with girls.”

They married on May 8th, 2004.  This Sunday would’ve been their 12th wedding anniversary.  Just a few days ago at Jacob’s funeral service in Phoenix my mom observed: “You have all been a great witness to the great love story of Jacob and Jordan. He adored her and she adored him. They were the perfect ying-yang. He was calm and deliberative. She is fun and task oriented. Jordan shares openly her raw emotions, and Jacob kept his feelings very private. She took such loving tender care of Jacob for these for these last two years.” For which I am so grateful.

After they married Jordan was accepted into the MPA program at the U, which worked out well because they graduated at the same time.  (There is a cute picture of them in their robes holding Lauren at their graduation in the program).

The last year they were in school, they welcomed sweet Lauren into their family.  When they moved to start his new job in Phoenix, Ellie, Ada and lastly Thomas joined their family. Jacob has such a tender way with his children. I’ve never seen him be angry, or yell, but always was calm, tender and loving with each of them. Most of the time I saw him playing with them, helping them, teaching them and bearing testimony to them. You, Lauren, Ellie, Ada, and Thomas need to know how much he loves each of you and how proud he is of you. He loved talking about you and sending pictures of you all keeping us up to date. He loved Jesus Christ and I think we all know that his actions speak louder than anything he could have said.  Jacob showed what it meant to have charity, the pure love of Christ, through his example as a father.

We love Jacob, we were so saddened when we learned that his brain cancer would eventually take his life. We are so grateful for the doctors, nurses, hospital staff that helped him have an extension of his life. And more importantly, we are grateful for all who pray, serve and love Jacob and his family. We pray that you will continue to do so.

Jacob, in my mind, is so very close to perfect. Jacob’s life has strengthened my testimony of someone who is perfect, Jesus Christ. We know that through his sacrifice, atonement and resurrection we too will get to see Jacob again in a resurrected, perfected body.  Let me conclude with the same scripture from Isaiah that my mother shared Saturday.

27 O Jacob…

28 Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord and, the Creator of the ends of earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power of the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even to the youths shall fall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.