Jackie Extrand Obituary "Step by step, one reaches a long distance" (Ugandan Proverb) On Monday, December 18th, beloved mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend, Jacquelyn Sue Extrand, received her wings and went to dance among angels. Born December 11, 1970, in Winfield, IL to Conrad and Carolyn Bye, Jackie lived her life as one great adventure. She had a spark for life that lit up a room, and a heart that genuinely loved helping others. Jackie grew up in Brainerd, MN, where she was involved in many activities including, student council, class president, 4-H, dance, basketball, and tennis. A Brainerd High School graduate, she also served as Miss Nisswa, 1989. In 1992, Jackie's infectious joy and giving spirit led her to join Up With People. During this year of travel, performance, and community service, she endeared herself to 130 international cast members and host families through her smile, laughter, and genuine interest in others. After her tour, she went on to graduate from the University of Puget Sound, and then promptly signed up for her next adventure. She joined the Peace Corp and moved to Uganda, Africa where she helped women in rural villages create sources of income to support their children. She also initiated and helped build an orphanage, which led her to sign up for an additional year of service. After finishing her 4-year stint with the Peace Corp, Jackie began her career as a school guidance counselor at her alma mater in Brainerd, MN. There she met and married Adam Extrand, and they began their most rewarding and treasured journeybecoming parents to Aden and Ashton. There was no greater joy for Jackie than raising, encouraging, and loving her sons, and seeing their dreams take flight. When first diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, Jackie leaned into her strong faith and caring heart even more. She developed a website and worked to create a community for other mothers enduring similar challenges. She kept motherhood and service at the center of this mission, too. It would be wrong to say that Jackie lost her long-term health battle, because she never gave up. Although the odds were stacked against her from the first diagnosis, and no matter how sick she was along the way, she was always courageous and determined. Her great love for her family was her driving force. When anyone else would have broken, Jackie stayed focused, faithful, and strong. Through her, we know what resilience, perseverance, and grace truly look like. There was no quit in Jackie. Step by step, she went a far greater distance than was believed possible. Now, Jackies greatest of adventures continues, while her memory and imprint lives on in the hearts of all the family and friends who loved her so much. Jackie will be dearly missed and forever loved by her immediate family, her parents, Con and Carol, her sisters, Bobbi and Kay, her aunties, nieces and nephew, her fur babies, and her extended village of family and friends. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11 AM, Friday, December 29, at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter, MN. Visitation time is at 10 AM, and a lunch party will be served by Raffertys Pizza following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Camp Confidence and the Brainerd or Nisswa American Legion for memorial contributions.