19-year-old Saline man killed in Mackinac canoeing accident loved adventure and serving his country, friend says
Jacob Greaves
Greaves went on an overseas hunting trip with his father, competed in rodeos and was excited even in grade school to start serving his country in the military.
"He liked to do exciting things," family friend Patrick O’Neill said of Greaves. “He liked challenges.”
Family and friends now are gathering with questions after an accident Monday in the Straits of Mackinac that took Greaves' life as he ventured out into the waterway in a canoe.
Deputies with the Emmet County Sheriff’s Department said Greaves was found in the water by a concerned resident who called emergency dispatchers just after 1 p.m. Monday.
The U.S. Coast Guard found Greaves in the water just west of the Mackinac Bridge and took him back to the Mackinaw City Marina, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities say they remain unsure of what happened in the minutes before Greaves went into the water, and friends say they still have many questions.
Emmet County sheriff’s Lt. Michael Keiser said Greaves left a family campsite on Esther Lane in Wawatam Township in a canoe around 4 a.m. Monday. Greaves traveled on his own and police believe he was headed either to Mackinac Island or Saint Ignace.
Keiser said this week that police are awaiting the results of an autopsy from the Emmet County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Coast Guard was not able to locate Greaves’ canoe when officials found him Monday, Keiser said.
O’Neill said Greaves and his family had a tradition of spending the Fourth of July in the Mackinaw City area and this year was no different. The family headed up with friends for the weekend and Jacob Greaves followed along.
O’Neill, who said his son and Jacob were close friends, had known Greaves for years. O'Neill remained at the family home Thursday as funeral arrangements were made.
He said Jacob Greaves was always ready for an outdoor adventure and had talked about making a trip to Mackinac Island in his canoe for quite some time.
“I think just to see if he could do it,” O’Neill said. “He was familiar with that canoe. He had been paddling that canoe around since he was a little kid.”
O’Neill said Greaves was enrolled in diving classes with his son by the age of 10 and had ridden horses for most of his life. In recent years, Greaves traveled to participate in amateur rodeo events, O’Neill said.
Jacob Greaves was enlisted in the Army and began training before graduating from Saline High School in 2010. Serving his country was a goal he had shared with family and friends for years.
“He was a very patriotic guy. That was his dream since he was a little kid,” O’Neill said. “That’s all he talked about during childhood. He just wanted to be in the military.”
Greaves also was taking classes at Washtenaw Community College in pursuit of a teaching degree.
Jacob Greaves is survived by his parents, Jeffrey Greaves and Valerie Dietrich Greaves; a sister, Paige, a brother, Adam; and grandparents Herb and Donna Greaves and Edward and Darlene Dietrich.
A funeral Mass is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 910 Austin Drive, in Saline. Visitation will be at the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the church from 10 a.m. Monday until the Mass begins.
Heidi Fenton covers police and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
mojo
Sun, Jul 10, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
His spirit is strong - an example for us all. He has changed lives for the better - and will continue to do so, even now. God bless you Jacob Greaves.
81wolverine
Fri, Jul 8, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.
This is very sad, as it sounds Jacob was a very wonderful person who enjoyed life. Liking challenges and adventure is great, but it must be accompanied by a mindset of caution and proper planning. What baffles me is what led him to the decision to try and cross a potentially treacherous expanse of water during the darkness, alone in a canoe? Having spent a lot of time up there, I know for a fact that freighters often go through the Straits at night. And there's no way they could see a tiny canoe or hear someone yelling from it. Lots of questions, but few of them will probably ever be answered. RIP Jacob.
McGiver
Fri, Jul 8, 2011 : 11:14 a.m.
Very sad indeed, a real tragedy for the family. Still many questions to be answered. Did the canoe have navigation lights? It might have been hit or, more likely, swamped by a large wake from a freighter. Was Jacob wearing a pfd? And why leave at 4 am?
denise
Fri, Jul 8, 2011 : 9:12 a.m.
Very sad Rest in peace, Jacob Greaves ...side note for Heidi Fenton What makes you call this a canoeing accident? Your source states that "It was not clear what led to his death. " Your article says police are still waiting on autopsy results. Did you know anything about his medical history or consider other possibilities of death? It's logical to assume it was a canoeing accident but lets not risk spreading any false information.
Salinemary
Fri, Jul 8, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
Rest in peace, Jacob Greaves.
Roadman
Thu, Jul 7, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
Sad story. It underscores some of the dangers in canoeing, especially when alone and under dark conditions. My condolences to his family.