Jessica Lynn Acker, 33, passed on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, doing what she loved – hiking the mountains of Alaska. Jessica was so dedicated to living fully and passionately that she had the word “live” tattooed across her back. 

She was born on April 21, 1981, in Madison, WI, the daughter of Robert Acker and Rita Acker. Jessica graduated in the class of 1999 from Waunakee Community High School. She studied Biology and French at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 2004. She served as president to UW's chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and for her extraordinary leadership she received the Copper Hammer Award. She also received the highest honor for undergraduate service with induction into the UW's Iron Cross Society.

After college Jessica moved to Alaska to work as an observer in the fisheries industry. She fell in love with the state's wild places and relished hiking, berry-picking, fishing and viewing wildlife. In her career and in her life she strove to always learn new things and grow as a person. Her adventurous spirit also led her to travel abroad, including multiple stays in France.

Her curiosity led her to explore the world around her, but also to express genuine interest in the lives of the people she met. This, along with her capacity for empathy and her contagious sense of humor, made her a fast friend. People scattered far and wide considered her one of their closest friends. She was also always loyal to her beloved family that she came home to between adventures.

Jessica is survived by her parents, Rita Acker (Mike Kelley) and Robert Acker (Susan Attewell), both of Waunakee; her brother, Jared (Alicia) of Edgerton; her sister, Melissa, of Chicago; her grandparents, Willard and Pearl Schumann, of Mazomanie; and Dolores Acker, of Middleton; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Leander Acker.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all who helped in Jessica’s search and recovery, and to all who have kept her in your thoughts and prayers. The family suggests memorials in honor of Jessica be made to Habitat for Humanity, or the Sitka Trail Works. 

The observer community is collecting memories of their friend Jess Acker to create a scrapbook that will be given to her family. Please provide an 8.5" x 11" page, single or double-sided, with your favorite memories of Jess, using photos, poems, drawings, letters, etc. These can be sent digitally to memoriesofjess33@gmail.com, dropped off with Lisa Thompson and Mel Rickett in Rm. 1061, Bldg. 4 of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle (look for a box), or mailed (send an email for an address). Please send in your memories by no later than April 30, 2015.