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Jeremy Gordon

November 7, 1976 - July 7, 2007
Madison, WI

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Visitation

Friday, July 13, 2007
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, July 14, 2007
11:00 AM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

Refreshments and fellowship following th eservice will be announced

Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Payable to Heather Gordon
c/o Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler
Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Sofia Floral
100 West Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 567-7676
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Jeremy Gordon never did anything half-way, or at half-speed. Whether it was tearing around the track, solving problems at work, or just living, learning and loving, Jeremy was the kind of man who lived life like he meant it. He was a remarkable man, really; a wonderful husband, son, brother and friend, a man so full of passion and principle, of character and charisma. He was taken from us too soon, but his life was a gift we will cherish forever.

Jeremy’s story began on a cold fall day in 1976, in the little town of Niles, Michigan. The United States was celebrating its bicentennial and on November 7, of that year, Ray and Barbara (Hitt) Gordon were busy celebrating, too, with the birth of their son Jeremy.

Jeremy was joined by his sister Anita in the family’s home, located in the little town of Decatur, Michigan. He was “all boy” from the get-go, and loved hunting, fishing, playing football, baseball and basketball, or running around Kusmack’s Farm as a kid. Just ask his dad how Jeremy could take the training wheels off his bike in less then the time it took to eat a sandwich! He also was a very bright young boy, with a natural curiosity about things, and always loved to learn how things worked.

Jeremy attended Decatur Schools, and when he was in kindergarten, he met a pretty little girl named Heather Drane. Little did they know what the future held for the both of them! As the years went by, they became friends, and eventually something so much more.

After he graduated from Decatur High in 1995, Jeremy attended Western Michigan University. Always a genius with numbers and mechanics, Jeremy decided on getting his mechanical engineering degree, the perfect fit for him. He had an adventurous heart, but an analytical mind, and only believed what could be proven to him.

He and Heather had an unbelievable connection, though, and truly balanced each other, complementing each other so perfectly. Theirs was a love so much more than just special, and after Jeremy earned his bachelor’s degree, he and Heather were united in marriage, on September 21, 2002, in St. Joseph, Michigan. Jeremy often told Heather how that was the greatest day of his life, in a life of so many great days with her.

The newlyweds settled into a bungalow on Three Mile Lake in Paw Paw, Michigan, and Jeremy went to work, and went to work on earning his Master’s degree in Business, in 2003. He was never satisfied with knowing just enough, he always hungered to learn more.

He and Heather shared that same thirst for life, and vowed to live each day to its fullest, determined to always “live hard.” Of course, Jeremy also loved to live life “fast,” too! He had a passion for motorcycle racing, and became an expert racer. He loved the thrill of riding, and decided to take it to the track, to be in a controlled race environment where everyone was there with the same purpose: to race, be safe, and to be part of the “race track” family. He belonged to a variety of racing clubs, including the GLRRA, WERA and CCS, where he and his wife made so many close friends.

Jeremy and Heather even owned their own racing team in Paw Paw, called Check Out Racing, with a number of local sponsors and their own website. Jeremy raced all over, on his Suzuki 1000cc superbike, always with his trademark, “kid in a candy store” grin on his face. Being the mechanical engineer he was, Jeremy was always devising ways to get lighter, faster, and more powerful on the track.

Jeremy took that same passion for racing to all that he did, and was a man of great principle, too. As a lifelong, avid hunter, he was also a longtime member of the National Rifle Association, as well as a staunch advocate for a person’s right to keep and bear arms. Jeremy was a firm believer in personal freedoms, and personal responsibility, and it showed in the way he lived his life.

Jeremy and Heather didn’t have any children, other than their beloved black Labrador, Critter. Jeremy loved Critter, and used to carry her around like a baby when she was a puppy. He also would take her riding around on his dirt bike, and spent plenty of time training her to be obedient and to become a hunting dog. He was an excellent “daddy.”

He could assimilate with what ever group he was with. Taking an interest in those around him was an art that he mastered. Jeremy was also an excellent friend, and was loved by everyone who knew him. He had such a dynamic personality, a natural charisma and magnetism, a handsome man with a megawatt smile. He was the life-of-the-party kind of man, funny and entertaining, and generous and thoughtful of others, as well.

He never lacked for friends wherever he went, either. Jeremy was exceptionally close with “The Boys” he grew up with, Ryan, Derek, Jeff, Bobby K, and Bobby Z, who were all lifelong friends. He also was very close to his college roommate Jarrod, his neighbors Lucas and Pat, co-worker Joe Marietta, and his favorite mechanic, Lance. Of course, if you had any relationship with Jeremy, whether it was working, playing, or racing, it was always a close relationship.

Jeremy and Heather’s relationship couldn’t have been any closer, and his beloved wife describes it as being “as close as two people could be without being one!” They made a point every single day to express their love to one another, and truly appreciated how special their love really was.

In April of 2007, Jeremy and Heather moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he went to work for GE Healthcare. Jeremy was so fulfilled and thrilled with working and living in Madison, and he and Heather were so contented and happy with their lives there.

Sadly, Jeremy died on Saturday, July 7, 2007, after a motorcycle accident, at the age of 30. He died doing what he loved, and the donations of his organs have helped five more lives live on.

Jeremy was a remarkable man, who lived a remarkable life, a man of great strength, character and charisma, of intellect and inspiration. He lived his life hard, and lived his life fast, a life without questions or regrets. He was the perfect husband, son, brother and friend, who lived his life like he meant it, and taught us to do the same. He will be so greatly missed.

Learn more about Jeremy and view his Life Story Film and visit with his family on Friday from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive-Kalamazoo, 375-2900. A service to honor his life will be held Saturday 11 AM at the funeral home. Jeremy is survived by his wife of five years, Heather; his parents, Ray (Sandra) Gordon of Decatur, and Barbara Gordon of Dowagiac; sister, Anita (Eric) Haas and their four sons: Bradley, Brenden, Bailey and Brady; Heather’s parents, Carleton and Nancy Drane; sister-in-law, Melissa Drane and her son, Trent; and many relatives, friends, and his beloved companion, Critter. Please visit Jeremy’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read his Life Story, share a memory or photo, sign his memory book or make a memorial contribution.

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