Jake Kanyer

Jake was born in Tualatin, Oregon. He was immediately loved by his parents, Bob and Kelley Kanyer. A few weeks before his second birthday, his sister Lang was born. A family of four.

Jake was home schooled from Kindergarten through Fourth Grade. He was reading at age 4 and reading for pleasure by age 5. Home school gave Jake the flexibility to learn and move through material at his own pace. To say he was a sponge would be an understatement; he was more like a fire that constantly needed additional fuel to burn.

In 5th grade he began his time at Veritas School in Newberg, a K-12 classical Christian school. From the beginning, his class was a special group of students, who welcomed, bonded, and became family. They were known as a “close class.” It was also an amazing group of parents that enjoyed one another and each other’s students.

At a small school, there are limited extracurricular opportunities, but Jake participated in almost all that he could. He was part of the Concert Choir that rehearsed before school a few days a week and had the privilege to travel together each year. He joined the theater group his sophomore year (because some female friends begged him to join – they desperately need more male actors!). After playing minor roles in two plays that year, he had his “breakout” role as Bob Cratchet in the Christmas Carol his junior year. He had the entire audience in tears. His senior year he was greatly challenged playing Shakespeare’s MacBeth, but of course, pulled it off beautifully. He finished his senior year in drama with a much more fun role, playing the flamboyant Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew.

Jake graduated from Veritas in 2017. Before graduation, each senior presents their Poiesis (or senior capstone project). Jake’s was an academic undertaking focusing on the Electoral College. He was a confident public speaker who left the audience with a much better understanding of this process in our American government and somehow managed to make us laugh along the way.

His last two years of high school, Jake was deeply involved in the Ardent Youth Group at Grace Chapel. This was a place where Jake grew in his own walk with God and with fellow believers. Amongst this group he found some of “his people”.

Jake went to Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he majored in Political Science and minored in Economics. He was part of the Honors Program and lived in the Honors Residential College his first two years. At Baylor he found a handful of professors and advisors who challenged him and who he challenged. He was often found pouring into the lives of friends and acquaintances around campus. His junior year he was part of Baylor in Maastricht, having the privilege to live and study in The Netherlands, and travel Europe for 6 weeks before COVID-19 brought the group home in mid-March.

At home in Oregon, Jake worked multiple jobs and grew in his love of cooking. He may have perfected his version of mac n’ cheese. He also started baking bread, much to the joy of his family. 

All of this is just a glimpse into who Jake was: brilliant, funny, witty, fun, loving, caring, kind, compassionate, deep, thoughtful, soft-spoken, curious, ever learning.

The world is lesser place without Jake in it. He leaves a hole, a space, in many, many lives.

As a professor wrote: “The world seems emptier than a single loss can account for.”

Jake, we miss you! And look forward to the day when we will see you again, hear your voice, and hug you tight!

Jake Kanyer, 21 years of age.

Lived June 1999 until March 6, 2021.

He was born in Tualatin, Oregon, and passed in Waco, Texas.

He leaves many that deeply loved him, including his parents, sister, grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

He was indeed educated: at home, graduating from high school at Veritas School in Newberg, OR, and lastly receiving a bachelor’s degree at Baylor University (conferring posthumously), in Waco, TX.

Jake Kanyer was keenly aware that the world offered an unending opportunity to explore, learn, and grow. Then he learned to read. It opened vast worlds and thought. He remained grounded, able to love and care well. He also reached to lofty thoughts and academic endeavors. Then high school started. He continued, more outwardly, and systematically. Certainly, he blossomed in new arenas. He walked in new personal active faith with God. He increased in understanding his self and place. Then university began. He observed aggressively changing public environments and considered historical, philosophical, political, cultural, and religious influences, to grapple with mysteries of purpose and aim in our world. He contributed to conversations greater than himself. He made considerable impact in lives by gentle affirmative nods, smiles, care, and life-giving words. As such, he indeed leaves many of us at a loss.

Yes, Jake Kanyer loved the Pacific Northwest, and particularly Oregon. He enjoyed vistas of mountains, gorges, rivers, valleys, lakes, oceans, bays, seas, islands, and buttes of course. He enjoyed beach jaunts, cave climbs, mountainous treks, waterfall loop walks, all the while enjoying friends and family. The borders of Oregon did not stop it. His stateside brief travels were taken in with a solitude and awe. The all-too-brief foreign travel found him hungry for more. Yet his home was Oregon, and ultimately, his heart home was resting in His arms under a welcome gaze. 

The family and close friends wish to extend a request to continue living, moreover, endeavoring to do so with the abundance of ‘tasting and seeing His goodness.’ Join us as we move forward. 

With much gratitude to so many during this time.