Jake Kenneth Gusler

Jake Kenneth Gusler, 25, of 151 Ladybird Circle, Stoneville, N.C. made Heaven brighter when he left this world on November 9, 2012. He had spent the last 8 weeks recovering from a double lung and liver transplant in the ICU at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 4:00 pm Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Osborne Baptist Church in Eden, NC, with burial to follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Fair Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Jake was born to parents Ken and Susan Gusler on September 24, 1987 in Eden, NC. Having Jake for 25 years has been his parents greatest blessing. Jake was a scout for many years in Troop 566. He was a 2006 graduate of McMichael Highschool. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 2010 with a degree in Sociology. Jake played tenor sax in marching band during highschool and college. He was a lifetime member of Osborne Baptist Church. Jake had Cystic Fibrosis, but it never defined him. CF ravaged his health but could not touch his spirit. He loved God, and his family and his friends and life! He never let the state of his health limit what he set out to do. Jake lived life to the fullest each and every day. It's hard to remember him not smiling or laughing. He had lived in Durham since February preparing physically for his transplants. It was a strenuous process but he tackled it with determination, faith and good humor. Though he didn't get the long life he hoped for, his family will forever be grateful to his donor and family for giving them the opportunity/possibility of a healthy life. His passions were well known and included time with friends, reading, music, especially jazz, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Harry Potter, Magic The Gathering, electronic gadgets, video games and systems, The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory, Dilbert, movies, and late night computer chats with friends. Food was a passion too. Jake never had enough potatoes and stuff, Velveeta cheese, Mom's macaroni and cheese, Chick Fil-A or Rita's Ice.

Left to cherish his memory with his parents are his grandparents JD and Louise Gusler, and family members Ricky and Lisa, Emily, Eric Barton, Barry and Bambi, Brittany Joyce, David and Sarita, Erin, Daniel and Jenny, Claire, Ryan and Kristen Gusler, Sharon Alderman and Ken Shelton, Aimee Alderman, Jason James, Victoria Vodenichar, Winston and Sue, Samantha, Matt and Autumn, Sophie, Maggie, Chris and Ashley Shearin, Connie and Joseph Reynolds, Manuel and Bunnie, Caroline, Tyler Lopez and numerous other extended family. Close friends include Jeremy Freeman, Michael Downs, Graham Russell, Ross Knight, Steven Rose, Aric Ringeisen and Amy Crews, Kayla Gilbert, Michael Keim, Kevin Rahn and Bobby Bebber. He was preceded in death by his infant brother Travis, grandparnts Jack and Goldie Snead, and great grandmother Sadie Smith and uncle Jody Snead.

Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, November 14, 2012 from 6 until 9 pm at Fair Funeral Home. Memorials may be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MA 20814.