Jeremie Ryckewaert

Jeremie began his next great adventure on May 28, 2020 after doing everything possible to outpace esophageal cancer. He was born November 15, 1965, in Detroit, Michigan to Elisabeth (Liz) and Donald Ryckewaert, joining twin brothers Michael and Mark. Jeremie reminisced that throughout childhood, Mark never left his kid brother behind, taking him to concerts, showing him what was “cool,” and getting them into all manner of mischief. Throughout adulthood, Mike was Jeremie’s best friend and confidante with whom he could be entirely himself. Jeremie knew Mike always had his back.

He attended Marquette Elementary School and graduated from Jared W. Finney High School, Class of ‘83.

Jeremie was proud of his Detroit upbringing and was thrilled to cross paths with fellow Motor City transplants during his adult years in California and Minnesota.

Jeremie and his mother had a special bond. A more devoted son would be hard to find. Separated for months by the pandemic, he was devoted to the end. The last and only words he uttered on the day he died were “I love you, Ma.”

He also felt an abiding affection for childhood neighbor and father-figure, Henry Neumann. The prospect of being reunited with his late “Uncle Henry” brought him comfort.

His extended family knew what a truly good guy they had in Jeremie, including sisters-in-law Linda Ryckewaert and Beverly Harris, Aunts Anna (David) Naufel, Marie (Rich) Kamrad, and Aggie (Pete) Gokey, and his fun-loving, zany cousins John, Lynn, Michelle, David, Christine, Roger, and Donald.

Jeremie was an animal lover of the highest order. Seeing a pretty girl walking down the street, might turn some men’s heads but Jeremie would’ve been checking out her dog. Jeremie was enthralled with all animals – their unique look, mannerism, and personality. He was a “dogs allowed-people tolerated” kind of guy. One dog reigned supreme – his beagle, Bailey. Jeremie loved her with a parent’s heart. Bailey was full of attitude with a mind of her own. He’d joke, “She may not be a good dog but she’s still the best dog.”

In Jeremie’s mind, something magical happened when he was 48 – he met Julie Costa, the “great gal” who captured his heart. He’d never wanted to marry but knew, right from the start, that this relationship was different, more than he could have ever hoped. It was a beautiful coming together of two adults who unabashedly chose one another out of a compelling want, not need.

Julie considered Jeremie her “super-duper fella,” an answered prayer, fulfilling the dream to find her own “big love.” Jeremie healed her heart with countless thoughtful gestures and being so emotionally available. He gifted her with his playfulness and willingness to talk about anything and everything.

Jeremie brought a beautiful dimension to Julie’s family life that wasn’t there before. He had an ease with her children, a way of infusing levity. Julie is certain her two sons will grow up to be even better men for having Jeremie in their lives.

Two years after meeting, Jeremie and Julie married on June 11, 2016. As they entered a 3-way sacramental commitment with God, Jeremie evolved in his faith and could see how God was working in his life. Jeremie was neither mad at God nor afraid to die. As a couple, Jeremie and Julie prayed out loud, hearing and sharing each other’s joys and burdens and then giving them over to God.

At their wedding they repeatedly pledged themselves to one another for the next 40 years. They couldn’t wait to see what they would accomplish together. Jer passed away two weeks shy of their 4th wedding anniversary-oh what a difference one missing zero makes.

From the start Jeremie told Julie, “You will be second only to my sobriety which makes everything else in my life possible.” Jeremie’s nearly 25 years of living in recovery made him uniquely approachable and empathetic to people, regardless of how they were struggling.

At 30-years old, he entered rehab by way of a county bed. He lived in eternal gratitude that a safety net was available to him. It entirely changed his life’s trajectory. He reciprocated by donating generously to fund others unable to afford rehabilitation.

When Jeremie’s beloved dog Bailey died in 2018, Jeremie promoted his wife’s cockapoo Luna to top dog and disability buddy. Luna earnestly accepted this promotion. Despite struggling with congestive heart failure, Luna kept on living to comfort Jeremie in her role as lap dog. Luna crossed the rainbow bridge two weeks before Jeremie died. We teased Jeremie that Luna was like the president’s advance team who goes ahead, scouts the terrain, and readies everything before the VIP arrives.

We have no doubt after entering the pearly gates Jeremie immediately asked for directions to the dog park.

Jeremie was a big fan of the Minnesota State Fair. He’d arrive when the gates opened, check out the animal barns, and treat himself to a Hawaiian shaved ice. Jeremie’s love of the Fair lives on. He donated funds to purchase a blue bench with JER RYCKEWAERT on it. Countless people sought out the bench and texted him photos of them sitting, smooching, planking, and eating all manner of food-on-a-stick. When he heard that this year’s Fair was canceled, in true Jer fashion he replied, “GOOD! If I can’t go to the Fair, no one can go to the Fair.”

Jeremie was a trained chef who insisted on being called a cook. Anyone lucky enough to have a meal he prepared knew they were being treated to something special. He cooked for restaurants, country clubs, casinos, hotels, and even a luxury train in California. He moved to Minnesota when invited to work at the Nicollet Island Inn. He ran the kitchen at Becketwood Senior Living in Minneapolis and went on to be the executive dining chef at the Medtronic world headquarters in Fridley.

When food service was outsourced at Medtronic, Jeremie earned a technical degree. He made friends of his co-workers and valued his two-decade career with Medtronic, analyzing devices in their technical labs. In 2017, he was wooed away by Abbott Labs where he worked as a microbiologist. It was hard to tell if he was more excited about the promotion or being reunited with the great group of guys he’d previously befriended at Medtronic.

Soon after, cancer forced Jeremie onto disability. At first a bitter pill to swallow, he re-framed his situation and came to covet his time at home listening to CNN and rock concerts from his youth on YouTube, snuggling with the dog, and lunching with Julie. He also got a kick out of telling people that he was now retired.

Jeremie married into Julie’s boisterous Irish-Italian family that included bonus sons Christian and Ben Fredricks, parents-in-law Tony and Mary Costa, brothers-in-law Bill (sons Nick and Hogan), Paul (son Edison), Steve Costa, and their partners Pamela Joy and Cindy Stelter. He was fully welcomed by the Costa/Fredricks clan as a wonderful addition to the family. He will be remembered for his kindness, quick wit, and perfect timing. Overhearing griping about nonsense, he'd wryly quip from the other room, "It's not cancer!!"

In earlier years, Jeremie shared his life and love with Lisa Swanson. Lisa was a trusted friend until his final days, and continues to provide Jeremie’s mother emotional and practical support for which the family is exceedingly grateful.

Jeremie was an introvert who wouldn’t have wanted to be fussed about in the end. So the universe conspired and COVID-19 took care of that. In lieu of a memorial service, we offer this narrative obituary to inform you of Jeremie’s transition, share a little something about him that you may not have already known and create space for you to recall your own special memories of Jer.

He only got 54 years, not nearly long enough, but in that time he gave his whole self to his work, family, pets, and friends. He said, “I’m going to live while I’m alive,” and he would want you to do the same.

A private home-going celebration will happen at a later date.

If you have stories or images of Jer that you’d care to share the family would welcome them. Please email [email protected].