Jeffery Thomas Jackelen

Jeffery Thomas Jackelen, 65, of Dubois died unexpectedly Aug. 26, while camping with his wife at Trail Lake near Dubois.

He was born Feb. 20, 1954, to Kenneth and Joyce (Reinhardt) Jackelen at Wabasha, Minn., and grew up in Alma and Stoddard, Wisc. He was baptized and confirmed in the St. Lawrence Catholic Church of Alma. He graduated from DeSoto, Wisc., area high school in 1972. He moved to Wyoming with his parents. He served in the United States Navy from April 1976-Oct. 1982, on the USS Dubuque and was a life member of VFW Post 10056 of Dubois. Jeff worked as a carpenter and retired in 2013. 

Jeff married Susan Schneider and they had a daughter, Heather. They later divorced. He married Cindy (Keech) Reinitz, the love of his life, in Thermopolis Oct. 24, 2009.

Survivors include his wife Cindy of Dubois; daughters Heather Clemens of Laramie and Briana (Bradley) Counts of Jacksonville, N.C.; sisters Kathy (Rex) Secrist of River Falls, Wisc., and Lori (Mike) Todd of Green River; stepson Josh (Sally) Reinitz of Henderson, Minn.; stepdaughter Tiffany Reinitz and her husband Mark Albers of Henderson, Minn.; grandchildren Justice Clemens; Lexi, Aliyah, Mackenzie and Quinn Counts; Henry, Miles and Sam Reinitz and Veda Reinitz-Albers. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Janine Jackelen and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers John, Steve and Tim.

Funeral services will be held at Dubois Cemetery at 10:30 a.m., Sept. 6 with Pastor Jesse MaClain of Warm Valley Community Church officiating. Inurnment with full military honors will follow at Dubois Cemetery. A meal will follow in the Chance Phelps Room at VFW Post 10056.