On August 4th, 2025, Jacob Adam Birkla went to be with the Lord. He was born on January 2nd, 1996, the son of Ashley (Cory) Gray and William (Michelle) Birkla. He was a 2014 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School. After graduation, Jacob pursued a bachelor’s degree in TV & Video Production at Eastern Illinois University, graduating in May 2019 in Charleston, Illinois.
To know Jacob was to love Jacob. He always had a magnetic smile on his face. He enjoyed making others feel good about themselves by getting them to laugh at his goofiness. Jacob always made sure you knew you were loved by him. He enjoyed many hobbies including gaming with his family and friends, playing Mario Kart and Zelda, building Legos, and hanging out with friends. His favorite times were spending time with his love, Amaya Willis, and his cat children. Jacob was a hardworking man in whatever he was doing. It was common for him to have more than one job at the same time. Jacob will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Jacob leaves behind his parents, Bill Birkla and wife Michelle, Ashley Gray and husband Cory; brother, Joseph Birkla; bonus brother, Matthew (Kelly) McCarty; sisters, Rachael (Travis) McCaslin, Brittani Birkla, Bethany (Lamar) Wilcox, Kaitlyn Birkla; bonus sisters, Lexie Vernon, Brooklyn (Cole) Ritchey; bonus grandparents, Danny and Joyce Gray; niece and nephew, Finley and Garrett McCaslin; several bonus nieces and nephews; girlfriend, Amaya Willis; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Jacob was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Lindel and Janice Caddell; bonus grandmother, Sara Caddell; paternal grandparents, Diane Cox and Joe Birkla.
Family and friends are invited to gather for a Visitation from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2025, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church.
A Funeral Mass will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday August 8, 2025, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church with Father Robert Zwilling officiating. A private family burial will take place at St. Sebastian Catholic Cemetery at a later date.
Keepes Funeral Home is serving the family with the arrangements. To view Jacob’s tribute wall, and leave condolences for the family, please visit www.keepesfuneralhome.com
