Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest, 23, of St. Clair, Mich., died June 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, IIIMarine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Cpl. Standfest was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, "take charge" attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Jeffrey always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Jeffrey was an individual who enjoyed life's challenges. Jeffrey was born on April 24, 1987 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. His parents are Timothy and Karen Standfest. Jeffrey was raised in St. Clair, Michigan. Always able to express himself well, Jeffrey possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Jeffrey was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic. Blessed with a balanced attitude, Jeffrey was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Jeffrey was raised with one sibling, his younger sister, Jaclyn. Jeffrey had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return. As a young child, Jeffrey showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Jeffrey enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in baseball, snow skiing, hockey, track, and cross country. He was a Cub Scout. Jeffrey's memorable achievements included Middle School Science Fair-1st Place. Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Jeffrey was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from St. Clair High School in 2005. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was History. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Jon Davidson. In High School he received many awards, including Academic Honors and Academic All State, All Blue Water Area Runner, All League, All Area, All State, and MAC Champ in Track and Cross Country. Plus many other awards and honors. When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Jeffrey. Again, his direct, "down to earth" approach served him well. He was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. Jeffrey wanted to be a Marine and was planning to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS) after attaining his Bachelors Degree in the Uunited States Marine Corps. His favorite courses were History and Literature. Mid-Con Champs with Oakland University Cross Country. Friends and acquaintances found Jeffrey an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Jeffrey was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. Jeffrey had many friends, he got along well with many boys and girls. Jeffrey was currently serving with the United States Marine Corps. Jeffrey was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was stationed at Twentynine Palms, California and Afghanistan. Jeffrey saw action in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He achieved the rank of Corporal. He received several awards including Plank Owner and Purple Heart. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so. Jeffrey enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were playing guitar and writing funny songs. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others. Because he liked to take risks, Jeffrey was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Jeffrey ran track, cross country, played baseball and hockey. In his college years, Jeffrey continued to run track and cross country. Recreational sports included downhill snow skiing. Jeffrey was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball games at Comerica Park. Jeffrey held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Clair, Michigan. During that time, he was a kitchen helper at the Sauerkraut Dinners. Travel and vacations were experiences that Jeffrey truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of "live and let live." He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included snow skiing trips to Colorado, Utah, and New England all areas. Jeffrey was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Jeffrey's favorites was Buddy, a beagle mix. They were best friends for 14 years. Jeffrey was killed in action on June 16, 2010 at Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He fought brave battles with the United States Marine Corps, with Ruppert (his K-9 partner) and with his many fellow Marines. He is survived by his parents Timothy and Karen Standfest, his sister Jaclyn. Grandson of Bernadette and the late Andrew O'Hara, Robert and the late Gladys Standfest. Nephew of Patricia (Alan) Dunbar, Robert (Lynn) Standfest, and Steven (Beth) Standfest. Jeffrey is also survived by several cousins. Jeffrey was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Jeffrey had a theme song written about him, it might well have been "Don't Worry, Be Happy." He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Cpl. Jeffrey Robert Standfest