Obituary Record

Jaycoby Grayson Estrada
Died on 8/23/2019

#1-Published in the Omaha World Herald August 24, 2019

A Blair sixth grader died Friday morning when the bicycle he was on was hit by a semitrailer truck, Blair police said.

Jaycoby Estrada, 11, was northbound on a bike crossing Washington Street before 8:15 a.m. when the bike was struck by a southbound semi turning east toward downtown Blair from 19th Street, said Russ Cook, a detective with the Blair Police Department.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, Cook said.

In a note sent home to parents, Blair Community Schools Superintendent Randy Gilson didn’t identify Jaycoby, but said the student who was killed attended Otte Middle School.

The district has a crisis intervention team made up of professionals to help students, parents and school personnel, Gilson said.

It’s the second time this week a child has died in the Omaha area after being struck by a vehicle.

Abby Whitford, a fifth grader at Trumble Park Elementary School in Papillion, died Wednesday morning. The 10-year-old was struck by a car Tuesday in downtown Papillion.

In Blair, counselors will be available from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at Otte Middle School, 555 Jackson St. Counselors also are available at all of the district’s school buildings for any student who may need or want help after Friday’s death.

The district also works directly with Arbor Family Counseling in Omaha for the Student Assistance Program, which provides two free counseling sessions for every student in the district, Gilson said in the note. The counseling center has a 24-hour phone access line at 402-330-0960.

“We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as you need,” Gilson said.

Jamie Woods Flynn, the director of the day care where Jaycoby’s mom, Melissa, works and a family friend of the Estradas, said Jaycoby was an “amazing and happy kid.”

“If there was ever a new kid, or a new teacher, he would go out of his way to help them,” Woods Flynn said. “He was just the most happy, helpful kid.”

Woods Flynn said Jaycoby was dedicated to the Cub Scouts, where he honed his skills as a “natural leader.”

The intersection of 19th Street, which is U.S. Highway 75, and Washington, which is Nebraska Highway 91/U.S. Highway 30, was closed for about 3½ hours, Cook said.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene, as did an inspector with the Nebraska State Patrol, he said.

Blair police were not yet releasing the name of the semi driver.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call 402-426-6866.

A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the family with funeral expenses. Donations can be made at: gf.me/u/uxstdq.

In July, a 14-year-old Blair girl was killed when she was ejected from an SUV driven by another 14-year-old on a farm field road.

#2-Published in the Pilot-Tribune August 27, 2019

(Photo)

Jaycoby Grayson Estrada, age 11 of Blair, passed away August 23, 2019. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 30,2019 at 1:00 PM Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Omaha. Graveside services will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 29th with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 PM at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Jaycoby was born on February 19, 2008 in San Bernardino, California. Jaycoby will always be remembered as a young man who always enjoyed helping other, and with this was known to make countless friends throughout his life. He was a member of Cub Scouts Pack #558 and recently crossed over to Troop #558, service as the scribe for the troop, and recently earned his rank of Tenderfoot. Jaycoby was a natural tinkerer and problem solver, which helped with his time on the Destination Imagination team in Blair. In school Jaycoby was involved in band, choir and was looking forward to Student Senate this year at Otte Middle School. He will always be remembered for having a smile on his face.

He is survived by his parents John and Melissa, siblings; Seth, Alycia, Abbigale, Zane, and Malcolm, grandparents; John and Paula Retelsdorf of Omaha, Kim Cartwright of Oklahoma, Alan Pittaway of Ohio, and Anthony and Vicki Estrada of California, along with many great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother Kim Pittaway, grandfather Brian DuBord and great-grandfather Ted Shepherd.

#3--Published in the Pilot-Tribune August 27, 2019

(Photo's)

Jaycoby Estrada was northbound on a bike crossing Washington Street at approximately 8:15 a.m. when the bike was struck by a southbound semi turning east toward downtown Blair from North 19th Street, according to Blair police detective Russ Cook.

Jaycoby was a sixth-grader at Otte Blair Middle School. Supt. Randy Gilson described the boy as an “incredibly talented and courageous student.”

“He was easily recognizable by his big smile and was so loved by students and staff,” he said.

Jaycoby was a “natural tinkerer and problem solver,” according to his obituary. This helped him in Destination Imagination. His team earned second place in regional competition.

He also played clarinet, sang in choir and was looking forward to student senate this year at OBMS.

Jaycoby was also passionate about Scouting. He was a member of Troop 558 and was set to receive his Tenderfoot at a ceremony, which was planned for Monday.

“Jaycoby will always be remembered as a young man who always enjoyed helping others, and with this was known to make countless friends throughout his life,” his obituary said.

Blair Community Schools' crisis intervention team was made available for students at all buildings Friday. Counselors were also Saturday at OBMS.

The district works directly with Arbor Family Counseling in Omaha for the Student Assistance Program, which provides two free counseling sessions for every student in the district. They have a 24-hour phone access line at 402-330-0960.

“This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school, especially our students,” Gilson said in a release to parents. “We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as you need.”

The boy was killed instantly.

Blair police, Washington County sheriff's deputies, the Nebraska State Patrol and Blair Rescue responded to the accident, which closed eastbound Washington Street at 19th Street for more than three hours.

While authorities investigated, a semi was parked in a nearby parking lot. A bicycle was still lodged underneath it.

A black baseball hat could be seen laying in the street near a plastic bag and a bottle of soda.

Cook said it was an “extremely difficult” incident for all involved.

“It's a sad situation for all of us,” Cook said. “The officers that had to deal with this, it was very hard to deal with.”

Police have not yet released the name of the truck driver. The accident remains under investigation. Police are asking for anyone with information about the accident to call 402-426-6866.

A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family with funeral expenses.

Funeral services for Jaycoby will be 1 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Omaha. Graveside services will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Jaycoby is survived by his parents, John and Melissa; siblings, Seth, Alycia, Abbigale, Zane and Malcom; grandparents, John and Paula Retelsdorf of Omaha, Kim Cartwright of Oklahoma, Alan Pittaway of Ohio and Anthony and Vicki Estrada of California.

On Monday, Blair students wore blue, Jaycoby's favorite color, to honor him.

This is the second Blair student killed in accident this summer.

On July 5, Heidy Martinez, 14, died in a rollover accident on County Road 18, northwest of Blair.

#4-Published in the Omaha World Herald August 27, 2019

Estrada, Jaycoby February 19, 2008 - August 23, 2019 Age 11 of Blair, passed away August 23, 2019. Survived by his parents John and Melissa, siblings; Seth, Alycia, Abbigale, Zane, and Malcolm, grandparents; John and Paula Retelsdorf of Omaha, Kim Cartwright of Oklahoma, Alan Pittaway of Ohio, and Anthony and Vicki Estrada of California, along with many great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, August 30, 1pm, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Omaha. Graveside services will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. VISITATION: Thursday, August 29th, with family receiving friends from 6-8p at Campbell Aman Funeral Home. Campbell Aman Funeral Home 444 S. 17th Street, Blair, NE 68008 | www.campbellaman.com

#5-Published in the Omaha World Herald August 28, 2019

One of the last things 11-year-old Jaycoby Estrada did was hold the door open for a gentleman and wish him a nice day.

That was just the kind of boy he was, said his parents, Melissa Estrada and John Retelsdorf II.

Thoughtful, curious, outgoing.

Jaycoby had bicycled to his neighborhood gas station in Blair for snacks Friday morning. As he was leaving the store, he held the door for another customer.

How’s your day going? he inquired. Have a nice day!

And with that, he hopped on his bike to return home and get ready for school. That’s typical of the stories that Estrada and Retelsdorf have been hearing since Jaycoby was struck and killed by a semitrailer truck while biking back home.

“You know your kids, but when other people tell you how amazing your kid is, it means that much more,” Melissa Estrada said. “We knew he was amazing, but we didn’t know how amazing.”

Jaycoby, a sixth-grader at Otte Blair Middle School, loved Scouting, befriending others, chatting up people and figuring out how things work. In school he was involved in band, choir and Student Senate.

“He liked to laugh. He could talk your ear off,” his mother said. “He didn’t just meet people, he attached himself to people ... everyone was his best friend.”

In grade school, Jaycoby was selected by his teachers for a program to help autistic classmates, an indication of his sense of empathy.

He was a middle child and is survived by siblings Seth, Alycia, Abbigale, Zane and Malcolm. His grandparents are John and Paula Retelsdorf of Omaha, Kim Cartwright of Oklahoma, Anthony and Vicki Estrada of California and Alan Pittaway of Ohio.

Jaycoby had a knack for taking things apart and reassembling them. He was active in Destination Imagination, a competitive program for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math.

Scouting was where Jaycoby found his home, his mother said, and the church that houses his Scout Troop 558 — Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Omaha — is where his funeral will be held. The service will be 1 p.m. Friday at the church, 4117 Terrace Drive in northwest Omaha, followed by graveside services at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, with family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Jamie Woods Flynn, a family friend and coworker of his mother’s, described Jaycoby as “the most happy, helpful kid.”

“If there was ever a new kid, or a new teacher, he would go out of his way to help them,” Woods Flynn said.

His father and mother said the support from people in Blair has been a comfort.

“This community has just been incredible,” John Retelsdorf said. “We have had so many people who we have never met — that he had maybe stopped and said hi to, or played with, petted their dog — come by and offer their sympathy.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the police department at 402-426-6866.

A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the family with funeral expenses. Donations can be made at gf.me/u/uxstdq.

#4 Funeral Leaflet (photos)

In Loving Memory of Jaycoby Grayson Estrada

Born February 19, 2008 San Bernardino, California; Entered Into Rest August 23, 2019 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Service 1:00 PM Friday, August 30, 2019 Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Jim Killough. Organist: Betsy Jones. Musical Selections: “You Are Mine”, “Jesus Loves Me”, “So Deep”, “On Eagles Wings”

Pallbearers: Chris Manoz, Jim Gittins, Seth Vaughn, Nathan Chamberlain, Andrew Retelsdorf, Brett Retelsdorf

Place of Rest: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

~~~Obituaries and Funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

FindaGrave Memorial #202467463

Printed in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune on 8/27/2019


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