Jae Menzel

Jae's grandparents were Robert and Janet Menzel of Fort Dodge.

Jae's parents, Bruce and Michele, traveled to Korea to bring Jae home to Maple Grove, Minnesota, on January 17, 1998. Jae's smile was unforgettable. It was the same smile he would carry throughout his life: bright, infectious, and able to light up a room.

As a child, Jae's energy and personality showed up in everything he did. He played baseball, soccer, football, track, lacrosse, and loved snowboarding. He loved attending Camp Choson, a summer camp for adoptees from Korea, where he could connect with others who shared parts of his story and experience. He also loved performing, appearing in children's theater plays and musicals, where his presence and creativity naturally came through. He was smart, imaginative, and a gifted writer with a quick mind and a big heart.

Jae lived his life to the fullest. In his 28 years, he traveled widely, made friends wherever he went, sought out new experiences, and filled his life with music, style, adventure, laughter, and connection. He was drawn to people and to moments — concerts, trips, gatherings, late-night conversations, shared meals, and anything that brought friends together. He had a charm that made people feel immediately at ease and a way of making ordinary moments feel bigger, brighter, and more memorable.

He was funny, creative, loyal, and deeply thoughtful. Jae cared deeply about his friends and would do anything for the people he loved. He was the kind of person who noticed what mattered to others. He gave gifts with care and imagination, not because he had to, but because he truly thought about what would make someone feel seen and loved.

Jae will be forever loved and deeply missed by Bruce and Michele (parents), Ty and Suvanna (brother and sister-in-law), Karen, Curt, and Bob (grandparents), and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Jan, and his great-grandparents, Vernon and Jorita.

A private family memorial will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jae's memory to one of two organizations: the American Cancer Society at cancer.org, to honor Jae's longtime friend Barron, his Grandma Jan, and his Gram Karen, a cancer survivor; or Safe Horizon at safehorizon.org, reflecting Jae's deep compassion for people in need.

Jae, we love you always. Your smile, your laughter, and your love will remain forever in our hearts.