Jakob Swanzy

Jakob attended Princeton ISD and later Community ISD before completing his education through homeschooling.

Jakob worked in maintenance at Lakeland RV Ranch, a job he truly loved. He cared deeply for his bosses and coworkers and formed meaningful relationships with many of the residents. Jakob took pride in his work and enjoyed being part of the Lakeland RV Ranch community.

Jakob was kind, funny, sweet, adventurous, hardworking and fiercely loyal to the people he loved. He never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. He had a way of making people feel comfortable enough to be completely themselves around him, without judgment.

More than anything, Jakob was someone who showed up. If someone he cared about needed help, he was there—whether that meant listening when they were going through one of the hardest times in their life, helping with a project, taking an unexpected trip, or even driving through the night to bring a friend home. Distance and inconvenience didn't seem to matter much to Jakob when somebody he loved needed him.

His friends describe him again and again as a brother, even when there was no blood relation between them. He was dependable, supportive, generous with his time, and the kind of friend people knew they could call. He loved exploring, traveling, fishing, being outdoors, working with his hands, trying new things and getting involved in whatever adventure or crazy idea came along.

Jakob could be silly and make people laugh, but he also had a deeply compassionate side. He understood that people sometimes struggle, and because of that he could meet someone in a difficult place without making them feel ashamed or alone.

Those who knew Jakob would say that he loved deeply, helped freely, lived adventurously and showed up when it mattered. He made people feel like family. The number of people who have said, “He was like a brother to me,” may say more about who Jakob was than anything else ever could.

Jakob loved spending time with his family and friends and simply being together with the people he loved. He loved food—not only eating it, but sharing food videos of things he wanted to make, try, or convince someone else they needed to try with him. He enjoyed fishing, kayaking, exploring nature and going on adventures. He loved movies, playing video games and listening to music. One of the roles he treasured most was being an uncle, and he loved spending time with his nieces and nephews. Jakob enjoyed experiencing life, especially when he could share those experiences with the people he loved.

He is survived by his parents, Steve Swanzy and Shelly Swanzy; his sisters, LeTesha Swanzy, NaTasha Walmsley, and Lindsey Ahmed and her husband, Fahad Ahmed; and his sister and brother-in-law, Trinity and Dailynn Wilkins.

He is also survived by his nephews, Izayah, Gunner, and Grayson, and his nieces, Izabellah and Adalynn. He leaves behind his brother by choice, Andrew King, who held a special place in his life.

Among his extended family are his aunts and uncles, Tena and Allen Gibbs, Barbara Williams, and Leon and Natasha Ransom; and his cousins, Lanesha Long, Jason, LaRisha, and Eli, Jeremy Gibbs, Kylie and Keaton, Shannon Dollar, Karoline, Johnathon Williams, Cynthia Williams Doran, Megan and Dylan, Devin, Hunter, and Addison.

He will be lovingly remembered by all of his family and friends who were blessed to know him.