Jacob Daniel Salonek

Memorial Services for Jacob Salonek will be held at Walker Funeral Home at 4:00 pm. on Friday the 4th of April. A private burial will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D. Jacob (Jake) Daniel Salonek, 28, of Laramie, WY, passed away on March 29, 2014.Jacob was born in Gillette, Wyoming on December 14th, 1985. He graduated from Campbell County High School in 2004 and continued on to serve four years in the United States Marine Corps where he met many lifelong friends and had opportunities to travel the world as few people are able. He served in the United States, Japan and Iraq. He was discharged honorably in 2008 and returned home to Wyoming. Jacob's intense love for the Wyoming prairie led him to work in a field where he could spend days exploring the land that he loved. Jacob worked as an environmental field technician for InterTech for the past four years, based out of Laramie. He noted on his resume to have the qualifications of being "trained in off-road travel and self extraction". These skills served him well as he has spent the past four year in his truck, 4 wheeler, and on foot exploring the wild places of the state. He loved the solitude, freedom and challenge. This past fall Jacob began seeking a degree in Range Land Management at the University of Wyoming. Jacob has always been a survivalist, adventurer, and an incredibly witty and sarcastic philosopher. He had a beautiful, rich childhood and life filled with hunting, fishing, and learning the Native American lore and lifestyle of a population he respected. He was the most honorable example of a Marine. He was strong, loyal, and determined to serve his country with honor both during and after his time of service.Jacob is survived by his parents Steve Salonek and Judy Looney of Gillette, Geralyn Romano and Kevin Kyle of Gillette; sisters Hanna Williamson of Eugene OR, Angela Koker of Westminster CO; Brothers Chris Kyle of Westminster CO, Nick Kyle of Englewood, CO and Zach Looney of Gillette; Grandparents Robert and Marlys Salonek, and Patricia Romano of Pine City, MN and many other friends and family.Jacob is preceded in death by his grandfather, Anthony Romano.In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Albany County Search and Rescue. Donations can be sent online at albanycountysar.org or mailed to P.O. Box 2140, Laramie, Wyoming 82073. Condolences may also be sent to the family in Jacob's name in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, WY 82716 or at our website at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com Funeral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716