Evan Bixler laid to rest

Racine - The family of Army Pvt. Evan Bixler laid his body to rest Friday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.

Among those mourning for him was his girlfriend, Naomi Jacob.

Jacob heard that Bixler had been killed in Iraq a few days after they last talked.

While Bixler served overseas, they talked on the phone, text-messaged each other often and traded e-mails. For Christmas, he sent her a pair of neon green pajamas as a present. Slowly, they started to talk about marriage.

"It's very hard for her," friend Carolyn Haman of Mount Pleasant said. "At that age, death is a really difficult thing to handle, especially when you lose the love of your life."

Jacob forced smiles and gave and received hugs as hundreds came to pay their last respects at the Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home to a young man who desperately wanted to be in the Army and was desperately in love with his girlfriend.

"It's going to be a long day," said Jacob, 18.

Bixler, who was assigned to the 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany, was killed in Iraq in December. He was 21. He was the 66th member of the armed services from Wisconsin and the fourth from Racine County to die in the war.

Despite their geographic separation, Bixler and Jacob shared a close bond.

His parents, Kevin and Lisa Bixler, often brought Jacob with them when they visited him while he was in training.

Messages Bixler sent to Jacob tell their love story.

"I heard a song and I thought of you," he wrote. "Then I listened to it at least another ten times. My heart lifted briefly every time for three minutes and some odd seconds. It was the best thing I have felt since being away. It made me long for the past."

Bixler and Jacob attended the same church, Racine Assembly of God.

They knew each other as children but lost contact.

The death of Army Spc. Eric J. Poelman, Bixler's best friend, brought them together again.

Poelman and Bixler signed up at the same time.

Poelman was accepted immediately; Bixler had to battle to get enlisted but succeeded.

Bixler confided in Jacob about the devastation he felt when he at first wasn't accepted into the Army. It brought her closer to him.

"You have no idea what I always feel when I speak to you," he wrote. "And the beautiful thing is that friendship was the foundation so it's stronger and better than anything else. I text you every day now and it makes work seem not too bad in comparison when I get a response. Even if the Army denies me I will at least be comforted by the fact that the most pure love I have felt for someone has come at last.

"I don't know how to thank you for being the most beautiful person I have ever met."

On Thursday, the family shared more tears.

Cindy Green of Racine, an aunt to Evan Bixler, held back her emotions.

"We're definitely still in shock . . . someone so young . . .," Green said. "This is just overwhelming. They are going to have some long and difficult days."

She hurried back in the room to be with the family.

Green added, "God's got a reason for everything."

From the Sentinel

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