Jefferson Marburg Abelt

1978 - 2025

Born June 3, 1978 and passed away on March 19, 2025 as a result of his overachieving ability to grow cancers of all types.

Jefferson graduated from Little Falls Community High School in 1996 and enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from 1996 to 2002. He most recently called Rock Hill, SC his home, but has also lived in Duluth and Two Harbors, MN.

Jefferson's life was too short but well lived. He found true love, caring family, loyal friends, important work, and countless adventures. He had zero patience for nonsense, and a full heart for his loved ones. He will be deeply missed by many.

During his time in the Navy he completed training in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, NFAS Machinist Mate A School, and a year at the Naval Academy Prep School. As a Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator in the Navy, he served on the U.S.S. Carl Vinson with deployments in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Beginning in 2005, Jefferson worked for GE where he found a group of coworkers and friends that appreciated his talent, intelligence, attention to detail, and penchant for pranks. His most recent role in the company was Outage Manager covering all International Paper mills from Georgia to Virginia working for GE Vernova Steam Power.

Jefferson enjoyed adventures, trouble making, and hijinks. He found an outlet for his trouble making in canoe trips to the BWCAW with family and friends, scuba diving, motorcycles, concerts, travel, and time with his kids, family, and friends.

More than anything else in life, he loved being a husband and dad. As a dad to impressionable teenagers, he had a captive audience for sharing his passion for fire, destruction, placing random items in unsuspecting shoppers' carts, and creative cuss words.

He is survived by his wife Jessica; kids Spencer, Natalie, Kaitlyn, Reagan, Beckett, Myles, and Thorfin; mom Joanne Marburg; dad Jim (Chris) Abelt; sister Andrea (Erin) Geary; niece Maya; aunts, uncles, cousins, along with a very close group of friends from high school, the Navy, and work.

He is currently having a raucous time with his cousin Chuck Burnell, friends Mike Underwood and Ryan Hall, grandparents, aunt, and too many others.

His family would like to extend thanks and gratitude to his oncology team at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC including Dr. Burgess, Maggie Moorhead, Pam Tiseo, among others; his work group at GE Vernova; the caring staff at Savannah Memorial Hospital Neuro ICU and Oncology units; and all of those who have extended love and humor in this most awful of times.