Jared Lee McIlrath

Jared Lee McIlrath, age 33, of Grimes, Iowa passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2023. A visitation will be held at the Ankeny Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 22 from 5 - 8 p.m. with a time of sharing to take place at 7:30 p.m. The service will be held the next day at the Ankeny Christian Church at 11:30 a.m. followed by burial at the Berwick Cemetery in Ankeny.

Jared was born on January 1, 1990, in Des Moines at Methodist Hospital to parents, Julie Garcia (Light) and the late, Brad McIlrath. He was a 2008 graduate of Ankeny High School and was a lifelong member of Ankeny Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Jared received services from HOPE-Honoring Opportunities for Personal Empowerment. They provided him with job coaching and everyday living.

He loved kids, and very much enjoyed his jobs at the Alphabet Academy in West Des Moines, the American Children of Oakmoor, and being an assistant on the Ankeny school bus. He also enjoyed working at Hy-Vee where he could interact and be social with the customers.

Jared loved Batman and Walker Texas Ranger and was an avid collector of movies, including Dragon Ball Z, Back to the Future, and Pokemon. He was a big jokester and liked to make people laugh. He wanted to fit in and everyone knew he could be counted on. Jared surpassed everything people said he would never do, for instance, driving and the ability to live on his own. He was an amazing man and so joyful to be around. He was top-notch and the best son, brother, grandson, uncle, and friend to have ever asked for.

Jared is survived by his mother and stepfather Julie and Felix Garcia of Des Moines; stepmother, Beth McIlrath of Marshalltown; sister, Casey McIlrath of Ankeny and his nephews, Camdyn Magnuson and Shawn "Sj" Magnuson, Jr.; grandmother, Beryl Light (Glidden); aunt, Ann (Bill) Parrish; uncles, Steve Light of Rockwell city, Mike (Molly) Light of Frisco, Texas, Joe (Lori) McIlrath of Wisconsin, David McIlrath of Wisconsin, John (Nicole) of Apple Valley, Minnesota; and many cousins and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Brad McIlrath; grandparents, Mary and Gordon McIlrath; grandfather, Dean Light; aunt, Jean Light Meister; uncle Russ Meister and Jeff McIlrath; and step-grandmother, Mary Jo Garcia; step-uncle, Albert Salazar and step-aunt, Francis Salazar.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the McIlrath family