Juan Diego CHS lacrosse player mourned

Courtesy photo

+ Enlarge

DRAPER — The community at large filled the Juan Diego Catholic High School auditorium to mourn Juan Diego senior lacrosse team captain Matt Jungemann March 28.

Jungemann "left this world much too soon on March 24," his obituary read. He is the son of Lisa and Jon Jungemann and the "devoted brother and best friend to his sister Callie."

In an act of sportsmanship, Brighton High School lacrosse player Nick Carrigan deferred his Epiphany Player of the Week honors to Jungemann. As a result Jungemann was named the Boys Week 3 Player of the Week.

"Your outpouring and support has given all of us at Juan Diego the endurance to get though the week," said Dr. Galey Colosimo, Juan Diego principal on the school’s Facebook page March 27. "With God’s grace, Easter will bring light and the presence of Jesus to our hearts. Please keep the Jungemanns and our Juan Diego community in your prayers."

Chris Williamson, co-student body president, said, "On behalf of our entire school community, I welcome all of you to this prayer service in memory of Matt."

The prayer service was held to celebrate Jungemann’s life and was officiated by Pastor Dana Brooks of Grace Lutheran Church in Sandy, where Jungemann was a member.

"I know that we all have our own set of questions and no answers," said Pastor Brooks. "We do know that Matt made a wrong decision, a decision with a consequence. I say that because I know that Matt knew it would affect those he loved and those who loved him … but I have absolutely no question where Matt is right now – he is resting in the arms of the Lord."

Matt Jungemann loved Pastor Brooks, said Lisa Jungemann during the prayer service. "He would often say to me, ‘He’s so real, he just gets it."

Jungemann’s family is grateful for all the love, support and strength they have received from the community, said Lisa Jungemann. "I think of how many lives Matt touched and I would like to thank them: lifelong friends, teachers, both from Juan Diego and Grace Lutheran Sunday School, all of his classmates through all of his years at Saint John the Baptist and Juan Diego, sharing stories and great memories and just being together."

Lisa Jungemann also spoke about Matt’s soccer, lacrosse, hockey and football coaches. "You all noticed Matt’s potential and challenged him and mentored him," she said. "His passion for sports brought him such joy and he respected you all so much."

Jungemann was a coach’s dream, said Pat Lambert, Juan Diego lacrosse coach. "He was not just a talented player but he was an incredibly hard worker who set the standard and was an incredible teammate. His smile was infectious; his presence at a practice or game brought a sense of life to the team so we are having a hard time. We lost somebody that was beautiful in every way."

Lisa Jungemann said to Matt’s fellow athletes, "We have felt your love and respect for Matt from all over the country; it has been amazing," she said adding that Matt had more families than anyone has a right to with whom he spent time. "So many have opened their hearts and their homes and apparently their pantries – Matt loved to eat."

Matt also had a family that loved him: grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, she said. "He loved his sister and his father…. Callie was his best friend, who shared nicknames, filled our house with laughter and showed through her eyes the love she had for Matt when she talked about him.

"No one person is defined by one action, whether it is triumph or tragedy, and that includes Matt," said Lisa. "So let’s continue Matt’s life here on earth by remembering his kind spirit, sense of humor, twinkle in his eye and his affection. We chose his name deliberately because it fit him – in Hebrew it means gift of God."