Obituaries

Friends, Family Mourning 2008 Hartland High School Graduate After Unexpected Death

Viewing for Jeremy Combs of Brighton is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. today with a service 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Friends and family are remembering a fun-loving 22-year-old Hartland High School graduate this week after he died unexpectedly from what is believed to be an aneurysm or a stroke.

Jeremy Combs, who was in his third year studying clinical psychology at the University of Michigan-Flint, was with a friend in a car at the Genesee County campus Saturday when the epidsode took place.

A viewing is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Borek Jennings Lamb Chapel in Howell, 312 S Michigan Ave, according to . A service is set for 4:30 p.m. Friday at the in Brighton.

Find out what's happening in Hartlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"He was an awesome son. He was an awesome kid," said his father, John Combs, of Grand Blanc. "He really enjoyed helping people. He was very outgoing and very friendly."

A resident assistant, Jeremy lived with and mentored a group of about 20 mostly freshman students at the school's residence hall, where his death has surprised many.

Find out what's happening in Hartlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"He will be sorely missed," said Kim Butka, UM-Flint's director of housing and residential life, adding students respected willingness to spend one-on-one time when needed.

Butka said a memorial is in the works in the first week of January when students return from the holiday break.

The punk band he played bass in — George Orwell and The Flying Typewriters — also has decided to make its already scheduled Dec. 30 show a benefit for his family. The 9 p.m. event is at Woobie's, 4001 S Saginaw St, in Flint. Another band plans to dedicate its next album in his memory.

Dozens of tributes, including poems, pictures and links to songs, have been posted to Jeremy's Facebook page, which he dad said shows so many good things about his son he didn't know.

"You always said you hoped that you would live on in people's hearts and memories, and there's nothing I'm more sure of than that," posted Jordan Berry, one of Jeremy's band mates.

"Everyone that you love is together; you're bringing people together just like you used to, and the extent to which you touched those around you is greater than I think even you knew. I just wish we could say goodbye."

Editor's note: This article was updated Thursday to fix incorrect information about the circumstances surrounding Jeremy's death. Hartland Patch regrets the error.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here