Jacob Rubin Wiese

Born December 29th, 1995, Jacob Rubin Wiese was killed during a routine military training accident in Arizona on June 13th, 2026. A dedicated parachute, drone, and logistics specialist, Jacob was a Sergeant First Class with the US Army Special Operations Command, a fitting career for one who so deeply loved solving problems, and all things mechanical/technological.

“I can fix that!” Jacob had a remarkable drive to solve, to fix, to perfect and most importantly, to help. Facing each hurdle - be it pulled muscle or a kids’ broken toy, a ripped sleeping bag or real-estate contract, camp logistics or a recipe, (his expertise in the kitchen was particularly notable, an adventurous eater and an amazing cook) he handled problems like experiments, became an expert in whatever field he needed to master and solved them - and then he shared that expertise with remarkable generosity.

Whatever needed to be fixed, he fixed. Whatever needed to be done, he did, with great intelligence, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor, earning the deep respect of his peers and co-workers, all of whom he treated like family.

Jacob was also a planner. He always had a plan - and a contingency plan - and probably a second contingency plan, and he was meticulous and thorough in seeing each one through. Coupled with is innate drive to help and serve others, it’s part of what made him so good at his job. A year ago, Jacob put that logistics expertise to particularly good use when he showed up from across the country to surprise his parents on the day they moved to their Boulder home to help them unpack and organize all their things, calling from the airport to let them know he’d be there in an hour, having already planned all his transportation.

More than solving problems (or making plans), Jacob loved the natural world. Colorado, in particular was his happy place. He loved the mountains and any, and all, ways of being in them. He was an avid, and accomplished hiker and skier, and spent nearly as much free time as he could up in the thin air - and the even thinner air. He loved the sky, a place he chose to spend much of his life, building his career in the military around skydiving, as a flight instructor, and jumping recreationally at every chance he got. Maybe jumping isn’t the right word so much as flying.

As a kid, he loved to sing, to build, to create, to read. His fourth-grade teacher, suspicious of how fast Jacob pored through novels and whether he was really reading them, once decided to test him only to find out that Jacob read faster than he did. Jacob had a smile that could light up a room, and deeply touched all who came into his orbit.

He is survived by his wife Andria, the love of his life. He is also survived by his parents Janice Rubin and Charles Wiese and a huge extended family that loved him from all over the world.

In Jacob’s memory

Take a hike.

Climb a mountain.

Fly in the sky.

Cook good food.

Help a friend.

Tell those you love that you love them.

Be here now.

Tell each other stories of him - please, re-member him.

With these acts (and so many others)

You may honor Jacob.

Instead of sending flowers, please consider making donations in Jacob’s memory to the charity of your choice.