News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Opinions
Sports
Diversions
World News
Classifieds
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
News
Illness claims student's life
By Ryan Atkins
Published:
Monday, February 14, 2005
SCSU third-year student Jacob Pfingsten died Saturday morning in Germany while serving on a mission for the Army National Guard.
According to the Web site www.caringbridge.org, where family and friends post memories of their loved ones, Pfingsten, stationed in Hoenfels, Germany for three weeks, collapsed at his desk at 11 a.m. on Thursday Feb. 4. Pfingsten quit breathing but was resuscitated after CPR was performed.
While at the Regensburg University Hospital, Pfingsten was placed in a drug-induced coma, after initially being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm brought on from a case of pneumonia and whooping cough.
Doctors believe he may have suffered from whooping cough for some time.
Pfingsten's sister, Jolene Parks, wrote on the Web site that as of Sunday night, the exact cause of death had not been determined.
The Web site also reported that doctors had in-formed the family on Feb. 9 that they believed Pfing-sten would not have any brain damage when he began to move his toes and blink.
Unfortunately, Pfingsten began bleeding in another area in the brain one day later, and died two days later with his family at his bedside.
Pfingsten, a 2001 graduate of Brainerd High School, had been studying aeronautics while at SCSU.
Pfingsten has been a member of the Crow Wing County Civil Air Patrol since he was 13, earning his pilot license when he was 17 years-old.
Barb Hertling, director of Christian Education at Lutheran Student Fellowship (LSF), knew Pfingsten for three years, and remembers Pfingsten's love of flying.
"He truly enjoyed flying. He was excited about giving people rides," Hertling said.
SCSU third-year student and Brainerd high graduate Kelda Anderson had known Pfingsten for 10 years. She could always tell that flying was a love of her long-time friend.
"He started at the airport in Brainerd," Anderson said. "He worked there and was close to the workers. Flying was something him and his dad shared."
Anderson said she remembers how excited Pfingsten was when he learned he was going to Germany.
"That was all he talked about," she said. "He was talking about it for months."
Anderson, despite knowing Pfingsten while growing up, did not develop a closeness with him until they both arrived at SCSU.
However, Anderson always understood what a friendly person Pfingsten was and how easy it was for him to touch the lives of others.
"He's really personable and has a lot of energy. Jake has always been outgoing, lively and fun," Anderson said. "He could always make you smile. He always was one to joke around. He was always able to liven things up with his personality."
Third-year student Ashley Peterka will always remember Pfingsten as a kind man who was able to make another laugh, especially with his fondness of the comedian "Larry the Cable Guy".
"He was very proud of his 'Larry the Cable Guy' outfit. He wore it three days in row once," Peterka said. "It was hilarious. He constantly went around saying, 'git'er' done.'"
Peterka said she would not forget how thoughtful and unselfish he was with the people around him.
"He was always easy to talk to. He was approachable, which is hard to find," she said. "We had great conversations. He always seemed like he cared no matter who it was or what it was about."
Family members and friends were not the only people who remember Pfingsten's warm personality.
"I read a message on his message board by a girl that said 'I didn't know you very well, but when you walked by me everyday in Atwood and smiled it made me feel special,'" Peterka said. "How kind was that? Jake loved people."
In addition to Pfingsten's involvement with LSF, he was also a student officer on campus. For the past year, Pfingsten lived in the LSF house, which Hertling oversees.
Hertling looked back fondly of how great it was to have him in the house and how considerate he was to everyone.
"He loved Jesus as his savior and he cared deeply about people and people's feelings. He really had a compassion for other people," Hertling said. "He encouraged people to look on the good side and not the negative side. When he entered a room he would bring sunshine and happiness into a room. You could always count on Jake for a cup of coffee and a talk. He was always there to listen."
As of Sunday night, there was no official word as to when services will be conducted. Currently, there are plans to have a service in Brainerd and Brooklyn Park.
Pfingsten is survived by his parents Tom and Beth Pfingsten of Brainerd, LaDonna and Randy Blackorbay of Maple Grove and his two sisters Jolene Parks and Sarah Pfingsten.
Forum:
No comments have been posted for this story.
Post a comment
