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Losing a loved one is never an easy transition. The Thie family has been coping with the loss of Jade for exactly one year. On Friday night they gathered to celebrate his life.
"He was easy going and just loved life. And he just made everything fun," Jade's mom Barb Thie said.
"He was the kindest most light hearted person. He would have done anything for anybody," friend Andy Rippentrop said.
Jade was 33-years-old when he was killed in a head-on crash at the intersection of Cliff and 60th Street North. On Friday night, Thie's family and friends came together at that same spot to honor him.
"He always found a way to make everybody laugh, to feel comfortable. He had something about him that drew people to him. He had more friends than anybody I ever met in my life," Rippentrop said.
Barb says one memory that sticks out to her is a trip they took with her son and his wife to Mexico.
"He had long hair at the time and beard. And the vendors loved giving him a hard time. They called him Mr. Whiskers. Mr. Whiskers, come here, I'll cut your hair. You know? He made you laugh. He just made everything fun," Barb said.
While he may be gone, the family is making sure Jade's two young children will know all about their lovable father.
"Basically his easy going. And his love of nature, and of being outdoors. And Molly, his wife, has really instilling that with the kids. That's what it's all about," Barb said.
And the family is celebrating Jade's life just the way he would've wanted them to.
"Do some tears and get all of that out of our systems. And now we're going to Minerva's and celebrate his life and the fun person he was. Have a beam and coke for him. And life is good," Barb said.
The man who police say is responsible for the crash, 19-year-old Kyle Jones, was being chased by police at the time of the crash for stealing the vehicle he was driving. Jones is scheduled for a "change of plea" court appearance on April 16.
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