In a solemn moment, US Army Commander Chris Countouriotis rose from his seat at the Boulder JCC and summed up the life of former Boulder resident Jacob Wiese.

“He set an example for all of us to follow,” said Countouriotis. “Humility, passion, confidence, and an unwavering trust with adaptability and commitment.”

Wiese, a Sergeant First Class with the US Army Special Operations Command, was killed during a military training accident at the US Army National Training Center in Arizona on June 13.

“The loss of Jake has been sharp and painful,” Countouriotis said.

Wiese, 30, was born in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 29, 1995. He was a member of the US Army for 10 years, based out of Ft. Bragg, NC.

He was a camper and staff member at Camp Ramah in Colorado and California.

“He loved the natural world,” his family said.

“Colorado, in particular, was his happy place. He loved the sky, a place he chose to spend much of his life, building his career in the military around skydiving.”

As Wiese began his career in the Army, he became an assault robotics technician.

“His fourth-grade teacher, suspicious of how fast Jacob poured through novels and whether he was really reading them, once decided to test him, only to find out that Jacob read faster than he did,” his family said.

Wiese had previous deployments to Jordan and Iraq. The US Army released this statement:

“Jacob’s career reflected his passion for technology, logistics and operational excellence, and he earned the deep respect of his peers and superiors alike. His legacy will be remembered for his technical expertise, dedication to duty, and the positive impact he had on those around him.”

Wiese was buried on June 18 at Mountain View Memorial Park, with full military honors, officiated by Rabbi Marc Soloway.

“Jacob loved everybody,” said Rabbi Soloway, “and everyone loved him back, and everyone felt so deeply seen by him. He didn’t have an enemy in the world.

“Jacob was quiet, and modest, and yet somehow, he was always at the center of every constellation.”

His family said:

“Jacob was also a planner. He always had a plan — and a contingency plan — and probably a second contingency plan, and he was meticulous and thorough in seeing each one through.

“He handled problems like experiments, became an expert in what ever field he needed to master and solved them — and then he shared that expertise with remarkable generosity.

“Coupled with his innate drive to help and to serve others, it’s part of what made him so good at his job.”

In Wiese’s memory, his family urged love ones to:

“Take a hike. Climb a mountain. Fly in the sky. Cook good food. Help a friend. Tell those you love that you love them. Be here now.”

Survivors are Sgt. Wiese’s wife of three months, Andria; and parents Janice Rubin and Charles Wiese. Andria and Jacob were married in Montana.

“It is so unbearably sad that this fairytale relationship has this tragic end,” Soloway said, “and that you, Andria, are not able to build the life together that you both so deserved.

“And yet, that deep love has to endure. Jacob’s essence remains in your heart and in the hearts of everybody who loved Jacob, and who he loved back.”

As Commander Countouriotis said:

“Our unit will remember and honor his memory so long as his unit exists.

“He will be missed. He can never be replaced.”

© IJN 2026