Jeffrey Jahn Obituary

Family-Placed Obituary

JEFFREY JAHN Jeffrey Jahn, 57, of Jupiter and Delray Beach passed away on November 2, 2007. Jeff realized his dream of living in a tropical paradise when he moved from Colorado to Florida. He made may friends in Florida, at his job as a software engineer and during his time working abroad in Germany. He is survived by his mother, Betty Jahn of Lafayette, CO; sister, Janeen Jahn of Lafayette, CO; brother and sister-in-law, Glenn and Vicky Meier-Jahn of Golden, CO; niece, Molly; two nephews: Sam and Brad and honorary nephew Ryan Moser. A memorial service will be held Saturday November 10, 2007 at 3PM at the LORNE & SONS FUNERAL HOME 745 N.E. 6th Avenue (North Federal Highway) Delray Beach. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries

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Published by The Palm Beach Post on Nov. 7, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Jeffrey Jahn

14 Entries

Thomas Keeler

November 16, 2007

My parents were so enamored of Jeff and his Jupiter retreat that we would often impose on his hospitality on a Saturday night and Jeff would greet them with such good humor and warmth that I marveled that such a good-natured soul existed.

Michael Jahn

November 16, 2007

Heh Brother Jahn - this is your Brother Jahn from the other side of the Ocean - Mike from Berlin Germany ! We both worked for Siemens and met in Munich and Boca Raton - and in 1984 you invited me to your farm in Jupiter and last year in 2006 I had great days with you at the Great Luau and in the famous Blue Anchor. So you made all my trips to Florida allways a pleasure ! So even as we are not real brothers - only our last name is the same - even in Gemany Berlin you will be unforgettable - and in the eyes of god all humans are brothers and sisters. So I have lost a brother in real life - but i have won a soul in the spiritual world ! So rest in god - Mike

Patty Campbell

November 13, 2007

I’ve known Jeff for over 25 years. He means so many things to me that it is hard to put into words just how special and unique a person Jeff was. I first met Jeff at Siemens where he was a technical writer. Over the years we worked together on many projects and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He always excelled in his assignments with a calm intelligent demeanor, but never forgot the human side of the equation, poking just enough fun to relieve any tensions. More importantly he became a great friend outside the office. And when you made friends with Jeff you made a friend for life.

The most important gift Jeff gave was me his spirit of community and the pure joy of sharing any moment with friends. No one could enjoy, or make others enjoy, a simple gathering among friends more than Jeff could. And Jeff always pursued those moments with a passion all his own. Time spent with Jeff meant time spent with Jeff’s friends. He kindled the bonds between everyone around him.

One of these times I spent with Jeff and several friends celebrating a birthday. It was time for me to go home and I said my goodbyes to everyone. I was home for about five minutes when there was a knock- a persistent, loud knock, on my door. Jeff had rallied his community to move to my place. Jeff Coyle will tell you that I was really mad when they invaded my house, but I don’t remember being mad. What I remember is the unanimous glee on the faces of this team of invaders. The happiness was infectious and I can still see Jeff that night, content and almost peaceful in the chaos, decorating my previously bare Christmas tree standing in the corner.

Jeff’s love of community was not only for people; it extended beyond that. He had a great love of animals and nature. He understood and appreciated the emotional connection between a pet and its owner. And his pets knew he was special too. Many of Jeff’s pets found him, not the other way around. There was Pokey, Mama Cat, Junior and the famous pigs who wandered into his yard. Jeff protected them all fiercely. After the pigs found him, he didn’t just feed them. He built them a pen and honored our friendship by naming the cute one Patty. When Junior seemed to be in danger after a pit bull moved into the neighborhood, Jeff and Junior moved permanently to his Jupiter retreat so that Junior could be safe.

Over the years with Jeff endless hours were spent planning our retirement together among a community of friends. The ideas ranged from running a simple bed and breakfast together to the purchase of our own Florida key where we would create a tropical retreat for everyone to share and enjoy. Each plan he inspired seemed to be more elaborate than the last. Today it might seem like Jeff didn’t reach that goal, but I don’t think that was ever the point for Jeff. For him, the time spent together planning and dreaming was the goal.

Jeff had so many friends that loved him for so many reasons. He will always be Father of the Luau, Host of the Orphans’ Thanksgiving Dinner and King of the Snails.

(as read by Mike Yenne at memorial service for Jeff held on 11/10/07)

Bill Rodriguez

November 12, 2007

I am proud to have known Jeff for over half of my life--In all that time I never recall him getting visibly mad, being rude or mean to
anyone or anything. His demeanor was always on an even keal-- His heart was the biggest part of him. We spent so many
fun days together--I remember when I decided to leave Boca to come to NC, he was sad and determined to help me change my mind--Even when he came to visit several times to NC, the possibility of us returning to FL was still an option in his mind and
he made it clear to Jeanne and I and offered reasons why we should return. He loved Jeanne and Nick, I could tell. He didn't ask alot of anyone, didn't want expensive material things, what he cared about was his relationships with his friends. My Dad was very
sad to hear this day come, as Jeff often went to visit my folks and eat dinner with them after we had gone to NC to get the scoop
on how we were doing.

He was the architect of the now 'world' famous Luaus. So many good memories were created at those...He helped me
turn a lot of 'anglos' into pork lovers..chinese box style...We remember the time
we had the chinese box doing multiple duties...pig inside and about 100 clams on top...all day long slow cooking...we miss those days very much and now it will be so hard to even think about Luau knowing he's not going to be there. I hope that the folks that continue to have Luaus always remember to say a few words about Jeff at every Luau....Jeanne and I remember the excitement in his eyes when he showed us the article in the Jupiter gazette about the 'weiner dog Xmas parade' ..where our joey dog almost passed out from walking along such a long route...We remember Nick and other kids in his farm being chased by the chickens...

He was part of so many things for us in the last 20 years and they all bring back a smile on our faces---- lets promise to talk about Jeff as much as possible tell stories about him, keep him with us for as long
as we can anyway we can. We loved him very much.

Jeanne, Nick and Bill (Abe)

Jeff Coyle

November 12, 2007

Memories were very important to Jeff. Whenever a colleague has an anniversary at work, he provides an organization chart from 1987, a phone list from 1994, or a company leaflet from 1982. He kept these things and really treasured them.
So when I remember Jeff, it is not just about the things we did together, but the memories that he shared with me.
At his home, he would bring out the old projector and show us wonderful home movies showing him and his brother Glenn as young boys running around his old neighborhood.
My favorite story is when he and his brother entered a radio contest to get a chance to see a Beatles concert. They sent many entries. I don’t know whether the results were announced on a stage or the radio, but both Jeff and Glenn got to see the Beatles. However, the people at the radio station were in the awkward position of opening entry after entry looking for ones that didn’t have either Jeff or Glenn’s name on them.
Jeff was very proud of his sister Janine. He would brag that she lived in England and had a very important technical job. I met Janine several times when she was in town.
Jeff bought the first minivan. He used it for camping trips with Brad and Ryan during Brad’s summer visits.
Adam Farson introduced me to Jeff in 1981. We became known as the two Jeffs and our group met every Friday evening at Boston’s for many years.
Work brought many of us to Europe. Jeff was gifted in language and mastered French and Schweitcherdeutch as well as German. Many of us here remember sightseeing weekends in Budapest, Rome, Paris, Copenhagen and Strasberg.
Jeff bought a vacation home in Jupiter Farms. It was a fantastic place. It even had a lion cage! When newcomers would come to visit, he would give them a tour, reverently commenting on every tree and plant on his property. I remember the “Death Tree” in particular, a tree which absolutely nothing grew within ten feet of its trunk.
Providence brought Jeff a group of feral pigs and he became a farmer. He built a pig sty and kept two of the pigs, Patty and Linda. The real Patty and Linda still argue which pig was prettier. He converted the lion cage to a chicken coop and soon was providing some of us with eggs.
Jeff ideal was a sort of independence and self-sufficiency along with a sense of community.
Debbie and I asked Jeff to marry us, so he became a notary. In his usual fashion he took this task very seriously. Even to the extent of asking us for our drivers license when he notarized our marriage certificate.
At our wedding Patty Campbell caught the bouquet and Jeff caught the garter. The ceremony of putting the garter on Patty was hilarious, but very risqué. God, I wish we had a movie.
Jeff also discovered that he had the gift of healing. It started as a bit of a joke when he cured my hiccups one night with great fanfare. But it seemed to work for other things. He would hold his hands over a part of your body that hurt, and the pain would disappear. It was really amazing.
Jeff had a picture of Meher Baba in his home. We talked a lot about his belief that we are all part of a greater ocean of consciousness, that all of us are connected. What I did not realize until now, was that Meher Baba invented the phrase “don’t worry—be happy”. I think it explains a lot. Jeff didn’t want to worry. He just wanted to be happy. I will miss him, and I will always remember him.

Frank Overstreet

November 10, 2007

I'll always remember Jeff as an easy going guy who had a wealth of technical information he was always eager to share. Outside of the office, my memories of him will always be that of a gracious host of innumerable social events. I'll miss you Jeff.

Gary and Mary Southard

November 10, 2007

From Gary: Jeff was a great friend and colleague at work. He was always available for advise about call prossessing questions. He was non judgmental. From Gary and Mary: We enjoyed the great Luau that he founded. One of our social events of the year. Great people, great food, great drinks.
It's hard to forget his love for animals. Feral pigs and fancy chickens at Jupiter farms.
From Mary: One year I brought fried plantains as a side dish for the roasted pig. After the meal, there were a few left over. I asked Jeff if the pigs might like them. He said OK. I fed two to a pig standing by the corral close to the house. As I walked around the corral to give the other pig a helping, the first pig beat me to the corner by running down the diagonal to get more plantains. The first pig figured out what I was doing. They are so smart and have such great personality. This presented Jeff with a problem when he needed to get rid of the pigs.
But he found a humane solution. They were butchered and donated to a group that fed needy children.
Jeff,we love you.

Adam Farson

November 10, 2007

My dear friend Jeff,

I shall always miss you. I am still thinking of the many good times we had together, the gatherings at your Jupiter hacienda, the trips we took, the parties at my home and our collaboration on various projects at Siemens. My Mum will miss you too.

May you be forever inscribed in the Book of Life.

Ralph Schneider

November 7, 2007

I had the privledge of working with Jeff for over 15 years. He was a great guy. He always had a nice word to say. Dana and I will miss him dearly.

julie dove

November 7, 2007

To Jeffs family,
I want you all to know how many lives he touched, during his short time on this earth. Jeff has more friends than anyone I've ever known. People that truly cared about him. I know that his body is gone but his soul is everywhere. My mom told me that Jeff believed everyone was part of the ocean and all of us were just small drops. He believed that at the end of life everyone returned back to the universe. I really admired Jeff for his spiritual beliefs, his theories on life and the world. He was a good and loyal friend to everyone. He will be missed so much by myself and the rest of my family. I really believe that people come in to life for a reason. Why they leave so young makes no sense to me. But knowing Jeff he would probably have his theory on it.

Peter Scott

November 7, 2007

I truely enjoyed seeing your smiling face when we would meet at the Plams of Delray Beach. I know that we were not that close, however, I still considered you a true friend. You will be missed. My condolences to the family. All though he has passed on, he will always remain in our hearts. Please do not forget that you can carry on with him, for he will carry on with you always.

Susie DeRocher

November 7, 2007

Jeff.... There are a lot of great people from Siemen's scattered all around that will miss you!

Cindy Nelson

November 7, 2007

I so enjoyed meeting you when you came to visit Janeen for Christmas in Colorado. I felt we were fellow "parrot heads" at heart.

Cindy

Brad Fayette

November 7, 2007

Jeff, we had a lot of good times, and everyone is going to miss you. You left us too soon. So Long, and I'll see you some day on the other side.

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