On Dec. 15, Orono graduate, Jake Anderson, passed away in the cold temperatures near the University of Minnesota campus.

As of now, the cause of death is unknown but nevertheless, he will be missed.

“He was a really nice guy,” senior Abby Aasen said. “I got to know him through church. We went on mission trips together and played four-square together at church.”

Anderson touched many lives. According to many of Anderson’s loved ones “his smile could brighten up the room.”

According to police reports, Anderson was walking a girl home from a party and while walking back, he somehow ended up down the steep bank next to the bridge, possibly slipping and falling on the ice. Authorities do not know how he got there, just that he couldn’t get back up.

Anderson, or “Jander” as many knew him, was a part of the OHS graduating class of 2013.

Anderson was involved in football (#75) and lacrosse (#60). His passion was lacrosse. Anderson played goalie for the OHS lacrosse team and helped the Spartans win the section final and punch their ticket to State last spring.

“Jake was an incredible teammate and an even better friend,” senior Chase Lee said.

Orono has been mourning his loss and has honored Anderson in many ways. At all of the home sporting events on Dec. 17, there was a moment of silence for the late Orono grad.

The Orono Rock was painted Dec. 16 by some of Anderson’s football teammates in memory of their friend.

“I woke up at 6:30 this morning and got some paint cans and headed out with some football buddies and took through the cold and painted the rock for him,” junior Chris Lecy said in an interview with Fox 9 News.

Anderson was known around the school and was very charismatic. He was a popular kid with all, and according to history teacher David Herring, “School seemed to come easy to him.”

“It’s very difficult to picture those last hours of his life,” Herring said. “And [that] someone that well-liked could be alone at the end.”

As the days turn into nights, and then into months, we will always remember Jake Anderson as a loving, kind-hearted young man. He is now smiling down upon us.

Anderson’s visitation is on Friday, Dec. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. His funeral is at 11 a.m. at Wayzata Community Church on Saturday, Dec. 21.