Jared Aaron Muilenburg

Jared Aaron Muilenburg, 21, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died May 28 unexpectedly in Portland, where he was attending Portland Community College.

Private family services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday.

Jared was born May 25, 1987, to Rick and Janice Muilenburg, in La Grande. He was the sixth of eight children and the youngest son. Jared graduated from La Grande High School in 2005. After graduating, he worked with his father in the construction business.

In his early years, he developed an interest in computers and music. Although he had never received formal piano lessons, his brother, Tony, taught him in a few lessons, and Jared soon learned to play well. He was often found playing the hymns of the church and the nation in a medley that would go for an hour or more. He wasn't afraid to tackle masterpieces of more difficult levels. He enjoyed singing hymns with his sister, Melissa.

Jared attended the LDS Church and seminary as a young man. He was notably always the first to volunteer for service projects. One of Jared's lifelong ambitions was to serve as a missionary for the church.

Jared attended college as a freshman at PCC, where he was majoring in computer networking and information technology. During and after high school, he had helped keep the computers in repair at the school. Jared loved to write - finishing a novel and coming close to finishing a second. Neither has been published as yet.

Jared also knew a lot of masonry skills, and enjoyed working alongside his father and brothers. In the evenings, they would often dispose of any left-over energy playing computer games.

Survivors include his parents, Rich and Janice Muilenburg; siblings, Travis and Lorrie Muilenburg of Yakima, Tony and Lisa Muilenburg of Portland, Nathen of La Grande, Katie and Jake Hanson of La Grande, Emily and Gabriel Gaertner of Portland and Melissa Muilenburg and Kiley, who lives at home still; several nieces and nephews; and grandparents, Elton and Nita Muilenburg of Island City.