REMEMBERING JACOB EILEN
BY TRUCKER/POET/ARTIST TREVOR HARDWICK
On November 23, 2008, the world of truck shows and trucking lost one of its own - Jacob “Jake” Eilen, when he lost control of his pickup (possibly due to ice on the road) and slid into a ditch near his home in Hampton, Minnesota. News of the tragedy traveled fast and I found myself searching for more information. I found a blog online where friends and business associates were posting their condolences, thoughts and memories about Jake. It was very touching. I was moved to write a poem about this man whom I had never met but knew of through calendars, truck shows and magazines. Between the postings I read online and the conversations I was able to have with several of his close friends, I got a pretty clear understanding about what this young man was all about. I’d like to pass on my condolences to the Eilen family and hope that this poem, in some small way, helps heal some of the hurt by remembering what a great guy Jake really was. Pictured here are a few of the working show trucks that Jake has owned over the years.
THAT’S JAKE!
By Trevor Hardwick
There was a boy,
A little precious baby boy.
The image of his father,
And his mothers’ pride and joy.
He’d smile and you would know,
For heavens’ sake, that’s Jake!
He was a brother,
Raised to stand up for his kin.
The kind of love a brother has,
That endures through thick and thin.
A brother who has your back,
When it’s all at stake, that’s Jake!
He was a friend,
Many loved him, there’s no doubt.
The kind of friend you can’t imagine,
Living life without.
A man who loved his friends,
Make no mistake, that’s Jake!
He had a ride,
A winning truck built with pride.
So meticulous with detail,
And flames adorned the sides.
A man who loves his chrome,
And metal-flake, that’s Jake!
His name is Jacob Eilen,
And he made his parents proud.
A brother like no other,
And a friend who loved out-loud.
If there’s a man who’s hand,
I wish that I could shake, that’s Jake!
He met a woman,
And made that girl his wife.
And you can bet he loved her,
More than he loved life.
He married her and made a vow,
Never to forsake, that’s Jake!
And then, there was a boy,
A little precious baby boy.
The image of his father,
And his mothers’ pride and joy.
Although his name is Jaden,
In his smile for heavens’ sake,
THAT’S JAKE!