Staff Sergeant Daniel Jacob VanMeter

Staff Sergeant Daniel Jacob “Jake� VanMeter, 27, of Schweinfurt, Germany, formerly of Raymore, Missouri passed away on March 8, 2010 due to complications from an accidental fire. He was born September 8, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri. Jake graduated from Raymore-Peculiar High School in 2000 and then joined the United States Army. He served his country proudly and passionately for over nine years. After being stationed in Arlington, Virginia at the Home of the Old Guard and serving as a recruiter based locally out of Kansas City, KS he was relocated to Schweinfurt, Germany. Here he prepared for a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq that ended in November 2009. He was an infantry squad leader, assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Battalion. The dedication and level of respect he held for his job was felt by all who met him. Jake was an avid videogame player and had been since he was a young child. He also loved movies, especially comedies. An ardent fan of the Missouri Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Chiefs he was always the first to defend and show unwavering loyalty. He was a very intelligent man with the unique ability to make others feel comfortable and at ease. A loving father, son, brother, and most of all friend, he will be missed dearly. Jake is survived by Sunshine VanMeter, his son Derek and daughter Savanna, mother Linda Rose, father Ron VanMeter, stepfather Riley Rose, and sisters, Laura VanMeter and Hannah Rose.