On the 31st of July at 6:05 A.M., Jacob James Stephenson, age 10, breathed his last & left his sickened body behind. He was surrounded by his family & enshrouded in love. Though he is free, the world is robbed of a child well-remembered. An admirer of almost anything & everything- not to mention everyone- JJ welcomed life with open arms. Often quite literally, as he always loved to give hugs & kisses. We will celebrate Jacob by continuing to be playful- solving riddles & doing puzzles & playing board games & basketball, giving it all a try. We will be loving & kind, seeing the best in things & people, from insects, to the moon, to whoever he was in conversation with. And we will never stop laughing. He is present in our quiet chuckles to ourselves, our uncontrollable cackling at a buddy's joke- in the joy we share with ourselves & others. For his final trick, Mr. Sarcastic left us on his tenth birthday, the irony of death on a birthday too rich for him to resist. So it is, that our world did not get dimmer, as his light has only brightened in his passing. But his loss with us here & now is felt unequivocally. Rest in peace, Jacob James. You are love forever

Jacob James Stephenson, age 10 of   Apple Valley, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 31, 2025.  Preceded in death by great grandparents, Roy Stephenson and Ralph Lang, Ronald and Sharon Bare and Donald and Marilyn Eyrich.  Survived by his mother, Samantha Eyrich-Bare and Father, Jordan Stephenson; siblings: Daniel and Hannah; grandparents: Terrina Bare and Dave (Sami) Eyrich and Mechelle & Todd Stephenson; Aunts: Danielle (Jeff) Estvold, Kailee (Nick) Erikson, Kelsi (Simon) Lindstrom, Gabby (Josh) Cook, Alexis (Nick) Parenteau; also by other loving  family and friends.

Memorial service 11:00 am Friday August 8, 2025 at South Suburban Church 12600 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley MN. Memorial visitation 10:15 am-11:00 am at church with a light lunch to follow.