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Eric's Last Wishes

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  • Ella Jacobs, 3, reaches up to touch a drawing of her father, Eric, who died in a plane crash before she was born in 2006. The drawing, created by Eric's brother, xxxxx, is the centerpiece of the Jacobs' living room in their Polk City home, where Ella's mother, Heather and her four brothers honor his memory. Even though Ella never met Eric, she delightfully refers to him as her "angel in heaven."

  • Heather Jacobs helps her sons, Brayden, 11, right, with his chin strap while Justin, 10, puts on his jersey as they prepare for a night of football before leaving with her five children for a night of activities. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • A Bible scripture on the wall serves as a reminder of the blessings in Heather and Brayden Jacobs' lives despite having lost their husband and father, respectively in a plane crash in 2006. Heather Jacobs helps her son, Brayden, 11, adjust his helmet while preparing for a night of football before leaving with her five children for a night of activities. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • A drawing of Eric Jacobs is the centerpiece of Heather Jacobs' living room, where she and their five children honor his memory. Eric died in a plane crash in 2006 when Heather was eight months pregnant with their youngest child, Ella.

  • Heather Jacobs looks over a list of tasks as a reminder before she leaves for an evening of errands and activities with her five children. Son Justin, 10, waits at left, while Keenan, 7, looks for his shirt. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Brayden Jacobs, 11, talks with his brother, Justin, 10, as little sister Ella, 3, waits with them to depart for a night of activities. The trio, and their two other brothers, lost their father, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006. They have since been raised by their mother, Heather, in Polk City.

  • Counterclockwise from bottom left, Brayden, Justin, Keenan, Ethan and Ella Jacobs ride together on their way to a night of football practice and other activites. Several times a week, their mother, Heather, loads up the family SUV for busy evenings of activities. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Brayden and Ethan Jacobs play during their brother Justin's football practice in Ankeny. Heather, seated at rear, lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs has taught her five children that their father, Eric, loves them from Heaven.

  • Heather Jacobs helps her son, Keenan, 7, with his homework while daughter Ella, 3, enjoys a bowl of popcorn in the kitchen of their Polk City home. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with Ella and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Ethan Jacobs, 5, builds a toy car track while his mother, Heather, makes dinner in the kitchen of their Polk City home. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with Ella and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Ella Jacobs, 3, help her mother, Heather, make pancake batter in the kitchen of their Polk City home. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with Ella and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs takes a break from packing the family SUV to hug her daughter, Ella, 3, during an evening of shuttling her five children to activities in Ankeny. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Keenan, left, Ethan and Brayden Jacobs race one another while waiting for the end of their brother Justin's football practice in Ankeny. Their mother, Heather, lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Ella Jacobs, 3, brushes her teeth with her mother, Heather, in their Polk City home. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs kisses her daughter, Ella, 3, while reading bedtime books with her in their Polk City home. Bedtime is cherished by Heather, as it is about the only time in the day where she will get one-on-one time with each of her children. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs lays in the dark with her daughter, Ella, 3, at bedtime in their Polk City home. Bedtime is cherished by Heather, as it is about the only time in the day where she will get one-on-one time with each of her children. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs reads bedtime books with her sons Keenan, 7, and Ethan, 5, in their Polk City home. Bedtime is cherished by Heather, as it is about the only time in the day where she will get one-on-one time with each of her children. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs clasps hands in bedtime prayer with her son, Justin, 10. Bedtime is cherished by Heather, as it is about the only time in the day where she will get one-on-one time with each of her children. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs has taught her five children (in photograhs at rear) that their father, Eric, loves them from Heaven.

  • Heather Jacobs dances with her boyfriend, Dan Moen, while Moen's sons watch during a tailgate before an Iowa State football game in October. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.

  • Heather Jacobs gets a kiss from her boyfriend, Dan Moen, while Moen's sons watch during a tailgate before an Iowa State football game in October. Heather lost her husband, Eric, in a plane crash in 2006 when she was eight months pregnant with their youngest, Ella, and has since been raising her five young children on her own.


  • Heather Jacobs' boyfriend, Dan Moen, takes a knee and proposes to her Sunday evening, December 5, during a night out at Django restaurant in Des Moines. After losing her husband, Eric, in a 2006 plane crash, Heather and Dan decided to begin dating in June after meeting in April.

  • Heather Jacobs' boyfriend, Dan Moen, takes a knee and proposes to her Sunday evening, December 5, during a night out at Django restaurant in Des Moines. After losing her husband, Eric, in a 2006 plane crash, Heather and Dan decided to begin dating in June after meeting in April.

  • Heather Jacobs kisses her fiancee, Dan Moen after accepting his marriage proposal Sunday evening, December 5, during a night out at Django restaurant in Des Moines. After losing her husband, Eric, in a 2006 plane crash, Heather and Dan decided to begin dating in June after meeting in April.