Pfc. Jacob Henry Wykstra was born in Thornton, a suburb of Denver, July 14, 1992.
He enlisted in the Army in May 2013 as an infantryman. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga.
Wykstra was then assigned as a rifleman to Company A, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January and was assigned to the Area Reaction Force in Kandahar Province.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
Wykstra is survived by his wife, Katherine J. Wykstra; mother, Heidi J. Katzenbach; father, Thomas E. Wykstra; brothers, Aiden D. and Connor T. Wykstra; sister, Hannah R. Donato; stepfather, Ray Katzenbach; and stepmother, Joyce A. Wykstra.