Luke Alexander De Jager

Luke Alexander De Jager was born on Leap Day, February 29, 2000, in Salem, Oregon. He grew up on the family dairy farm in Jefferson, Oregon, and attended school in Jefferson for all but two years when he attended Willamette Christian School. Luke was strong and athletic. He played 8 years of football in school and became a state champion wrestler by the 6th grade. Luke grew up knowing about Jesus and loved the story his grandparents would tell him about David and Goliath, and at the end he would fall down like Goliath. Luke could be both a little shy and very outgoing and cared very much about others. He would keep people laughing with his unique sense of humor. Luke enjoyed time spent with friends and family and was always helpful to those in need. Quite the foodie, there was nothing better to him than a good home-cooked meal shared with loved ones, especially if it involved burritos, mashed potatoes, or pizza. Quite the daredevil, Luke fearless and adventurous, always looking for an audience to witness whatever shenanigans he was up to. Some of his favorite activities were long boarding, dirt biking, tubing, snowboarding, paintballing, and of course blowing things up with Tannerite. One year his dad asked him to build a snowman and he was not thrilled about it until he was told they could blow it up, then he was all for it!   Luke had a love for animals of all kinds. He had a special cat named Mr. P, for pink, as he was quite a unique color. He considered himself religious and had a relationship with God. Recently he became interested in his Zodiac sign, Pisces, and was learning what he could about it. Luke was also a talented artist and would create incredibly beautiful sketches.  On February 14, 2021, Luke unexpectedly passed away at the age of 20. Gone too soon, he will be deeply missed and always loved by the family and friends he leaves behind including his parents Peter (Carol) De Jager and Deborah Gregory; grandparents Roger & Jessie De Jager and Joe & Rose Kariakin; siblings Lydia Kariakin, Hanna Mahnkey, Ashton Mahnkey, Caleb Pantazin, and Nico Creswell; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family. Luke will be laid to rest at Cityview Cemetery in Salem.