Jacob "Jake" Tolan

Jacob "Jake" Tolan, age 47, of Golden Valley, Minnesota and formerly of Fonda, Iowa died Monday, November 8, 2010 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Jacob Tolan was born September 9, 1963 at the Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of Thomas C. and Eva Mary (King) Tolan. Jake was received into the family by seven brothers and seven sisters and then joined by another brother. Jake was baptized at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church where he remained a member. He attended grade school at Our Lady of Good Counsel School where he graduated from Fonda Community High School in 1982. Following school, Jake moved to Worthington, Minnesota where he was employed at Swift Meat Packing Plant. Jake grew up in a large family where the boys all enjoyed the sport of hunting, trapping and fishing. He loved sports and played them while growing up. He particularly liked football and watching the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys. Jake enjoyed playing in dart and softball league. Jake knew what it meant to make a complete change in lifestyle. In June of 1987, at the age of 23, Jake and some friends were swimming in a gravel pit near Milford, Iowa where he dove off a ledge into the water and hit the bottom, breaking his neck. Following his accident, Jake came in contact with several medical centers such as the hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he underwent surgery. After surgery, Jake went to Younkers Rehabilitation Center in Des Moines where he would work on regaining his strength. After 10 months at Younkers, he was placed on a waiting list for the Courage Center Residence in Golden Valley, Minnesota. While waiting, Jake stayed with his sister in Storm Lake and at the end of September, Jake got into the Courage Center where he would undergo both physical and occupational therapy. Jake had a love for life and living life to the fullest both before and after the accident. Jake enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. When he was back visiting on the farm, he enjoyed watching his exotic birds and his friends and family trap shooting. Those left to cherish his memory include his siblings: Grace Engelhart of Sioux City, Iowa; Larry Tolan of Fonda, Iowa; David (Susan) Tolan of Boone, Iowa; Gregory (Connie) Tolan of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Richard Tolan of Fonda, Iowa; Sylvia (Mark) Reed of Storm Lake, Iowa; Theressa (Don) Cersovski of Harrisburg, Oregon; Martha (Robert) Skog of Albert City, Iowa; Alice (Robert) Barngrover of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; James (Julie) Tolan of Fonda, Iowa; Beatrice Tolan of Atlantic, Iowa; Rita Krowiorz of Vail, Iowa; Claude (Susan) Tolan of Fonda, Iowa; aunts, Myrna (John) Peterson of Pocahontas, Iowa; Ruth Kroska of Pomeroy, Iowa; uncle, Dale Johnston of Pocahontas, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews; extended family and several friends. Jake was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Eva Tolan; brothers, Duane and Theodore Tolan; brother-in-law, Howard Engelhart; aunts and uncles; special friend, Kenny â€œLightningâ€ Kirsch.

Jacob "Jake" Tolan

September 9, 1963 - November 8, 2010