Melissa Ann Fender

Melissa Ann Fender, one of three children of Martin Charles Fender and Jill Marie (Schneider) Fender, was born in Omaha, Nebraska on November 29, 1983. Melissa grew up in Glenwood, Iowa and attended the Glenwood Community Schools where she excelled in both sports and academics. She was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, Iowa and her strong faith was evident in the way she lived her life. She enjoyed the outdoors, soccer, and had a passion for swimming. Melissa loved to play with children, taught swimming lessons for the American Red Cross and also gave private lessons. Melissa graduated from the Glenwood Community High School in 2002.
Melissa moved to Ames, Iowa where she attended Iowa State University. She was a member of the ISU Swim Team and within three years received a Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree with an emphasis on Environmental Studies, Psychology, and Spanish. While at ISU, Melissa was always on the Dean's list and was named to the Big 12 All Academic Swim Team three times. She also tutored Spanish, taught English to children, and was an instructor for Swim America. She was perpetually happy and had boundless energy. The environment and learning how to be a better steward of the land became another passion in Melissa's life. She was involved in the Forestry Club and the Society of American Foresters. During the summer of 2006, Melissa worked for the Anna Beal Nature Conservancy, traveling all over Iowa, beautifying state parks and other protected areas.
On March 11, 2007, Melissa's longtime sweetheart, Jeremy Allen Jacobus, whom she had been dating since her sophomore year in high school, asked for her hand in marriage. In May, Melissa graduated from ISU with a second bachelor's degree in Forestry. The young couple made their home in Sherburn, Minnesota. Melissa had accepted a position with the Natural Resources Conservation Services of Dickinson County, Iowa. Her first day of work was to be on Monday, July 30th.
Melissa died suddenly at the Fairmont Medical Center in Fairmont, Minnesota on Friday, July 27, 2007 at the age of 23 years, 7 months, and 28 days. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Morris and Marthabelle Fender and her maternal grandfather Lavern Schneider.
Melissa is survived by her fiancA(c) Jeremy Jacobus of Sherburn, MN; parents Martin and Jill Fender of Glenwood, IA; sister Megan Williams and her husband Jeremy and their daughter Eleanora of Rochester, MN; brother Matthew Fender of Glenwood; grandmother Helen Schneider of Glenwood; aunts and uncles; cousins and many, many friends.