Jason Gage, 29, Murdered March 2005 in his Waterloo, Iowa apartment by an assailant who claimed Gage made sexual advances in March 2005.
_________________________________________
WATERLOO - He didn't have any enemies, just friends, and plenty of them. A student hair stylist, he wanted to cut and color in New York. And he was vivacious, an outgoing waiter with a quick wit and a ready smile.
Which is why friends and family of Jason Edwin Gage, 29, an Oelwein native, were shocked to learn he was found dead late Monday of an apparent stabbing in his downtown Waterloo apartment.
Tuesday night, those who loved Gage tried to revive the spirit of their late friend at a candlelight vigil. About 75 gathered outside the College Hair Design, where Gage had been working on his barber styling license.
"He was your Sunday morning, you know? This was going to be the day. No one could rain on his parade," said friend Todd Gareau, of Waterloo.
Gareau broke a somber silence with a 'first meeting' story that sent most in the crowd into fits of laughter.
"I was waiting tables at Perkins and he was hitting on me hard," Gareau said. "He was very persistent. Very persistent. Very persistent."
"I wasn't gay. He didn't care," Gareau added.
He coaxed the mourners to confirm his take on Gage's strong personality.
"Flamboyant?" Gareau asked.
"Yes."
"Pulled no punches?"
"Yes."
Family members thanked the mourners for the support and asked that they hold on to Gage's memory. Funeral services are pending and will be in Oelwein.
Joseph Michael Lawrence, 23, of Cedar Falls, is jailed on first-degree murder charges in Gage's death. But Tuesday, those left behind were determined to focus on good memories, not the untimely and grisly death.
Gage, friends say, took pains to introduce himself to new faces at his favorite downtown bar, The Times, and at school.
"Once he knew who you were, you were stuck with him," said Becky Ashton, of Waterloo, accepting a hug from a friend.
"He was the nicest guy in the world," said Karinsa Jackson, of La Porte City. If someone was down, "He'd make 'em laugh just to make 'em happy."
"Anything it took," added Josh Putbrese.
They recalled simple, frivolous idiosyncrasies, like Gage's favorite phrases: "Because." "Hey, hey." "Jason's in the bar" "Ironic." "Time to party."
They remembered his tastes, that Gage preferred liquor to beer. They remembered the last time they were with him.
Gage was honest, especially when sizing up hair styles, and loved to work his magic on friends' locks.
"He's probably done half the people in the parking lot," Jackson said.
He'd listen to what they wanted, then did what he wanted.
Jennie Tyler and Jackson mimicked their friend.
"'No you want to look good,'" said Tyler, who was counting on Gage's help to color her hair.
Or, "'No, this ain't for you, honey,'" Jackson added.
Gage was generous, baby-sitting a friend's kids. He helped another get over phobias.
Taurean Campbell of Cedar Rapids, said Gage took him high up the fire escape at the Russell-Lamson Building.
"Conquered my fear of heights," Campbell said.
The Russell-Lamson, where Gage resided, is where police found his body after friends reported his absence.
Friends and co-workers said Gage worked two jobs and would take time off from school if he felt the need. Gage was also determined to navigate life and relationships his way, on his terms. Period. A free spirit. A risk-taker. And his friends loved him for it.
"We're here to celebrate life," Jackson said.
_________________________________________
WATERLOO - He didn't have any enemies, just friends, and plenty of them. A student hair stylist, he wanted to cut and color in New York. And he was vivacious, an outgoing waiter with a quick wit and a ready smile.
Which is why friends and family of Jason Edwin Gage, 29, an Oelwein native, were shocked to learn he was found dead late Monday of an apparent stabbing in his downtown Waterloo apartment.
Tuesday night, those who loved Gage tried to revive the spirit of their late friend at a candlelight vigil. About 75 gathered outside the College Hair Design, where Gage had been working on his barber styling license.
"He was your Sunday morning, you know? This was going to be the day. No one could rain on his parade," said friend Todd Gareau, of Waterloo.
Gareau broke a somber silence with a 'first meeting' story that sent most in the crowd into fits of laughter.
"I was waiting tables at Perkins and he was hitting on me hard," Gareau said. "He was very persistent. Very persistent. Very persistent."
"I wasn't gay. He didn't care," Gareau added.
He coaxed the mourners to confirm his take on Gage's strong personality.
"Flamboyant?" Gareau asked.
"Yes."
"Pulled no punches?"
"Yes."
Family members thanked the mourners for the support and asked that they hold on to Gage's memory. Funeral services are pending and will be in Oelwein.
Joseph Michael Lawrence, 23, of Cedar Falls, is jailed on first-degree murder charges in Gage's death. But Tuesday, those left behind were determined to focus on good memories, not the untimely and grisly death.
Gage, friends say, took pains to introduce himself to new faces at his favorite downtown bar, The Times, and at school.
"Once he knew who you were, you were stuck with him," said Becky Ashton, of Waterloo, accepting a hug from a friend.
"He was the nicest guy in the world," said Karinsa Jackson, of La Porte City. If someone was down, "He'd make 'em laugh just to make 'em happy."
"Anything it took," added Josh Putbrese.
They recalled simple, frivolous idiosyncrasies, like Gage's favorite phrases: "Because." "Hey, hey." "Jason's in the bar" "Ironic." "Time to party."
They remembered his tastes, that Gage preferred liquor to beer. They remembered the last time they were with him.
Gage was honest, especially when sizing up hair styles, and loved to work his magic on friends' locks.
"He's probably done half the people in the parking lot," Jackson said.
He'd listen to what they wanted, then did what he wanted.
Jennie Tyler and Jackson mimicked their friend.
"'No you want to look good,'" said Tyler, who was counting on Gage's help to color her hair.
Or, "'No, this ain't for you, honey,'" Jackson added.
Gage was generous, baby-sitting a friend's kids. He helped another get over phobias.
Taurean Campbell of Cedar Rapids, said Gage took him high up the fire escape at the Russell-Lamson Building.
"Conquered my fear of heights," Campbell said.
The Russell-Lamson, where Gage resided, is where police found his body after friends reported his absence.
Friends and co-workers said Gage worked two jobs and would take time off from school if he felt the need. Gage was also determined to navigate life and relationships his way, on his terms. Period. A free spirit. A risk-taker. And his friends loved him for it.
"We're here to celebrate life," Jackson said.
Jason Gage, 29, Murdered March 2005 in his Waterloo, Iowa apartment by an assailant who claimed Gage made sexual advances in March 2005.
_________________________________________
WATERLOO - He didn't have any enemies, just friends, and plenty of them. A student hair stylist, he wanted to cut and color in New York. And he was vivacious, an outgoing waiter with a quick wit and a ready smile.
Which is why friends and family of Jason Edwin Gage, 29, an Oelwein native, were shocked to learn he was found dead late Monday of an apparent stabbing in his downtown Waterloo apartment.
Tuesday night, those who loved Gage tried to revive the spirit of their late friend at a candlelight vigil. About 75 gathered outside the College Hair Design, where Gage had been working on his barber styling license.
"He was your Sunday morning, you know? This was going to be the day. No one could rain on his parade," said friend Todd Gareau, of Waterloo.
Gareau broke a somber silence with a 'first meeting' story that sent most in the crowd into fits of laughter.
"I was waiting tables at Perkins and he was hitting on me hard," Gareau said. "He was very persistent. Very persistent. Very persistent."
"I wasn't gay. He didn't care," Gareau added.
He coaxed the mourners to confirm his take on Gage's strong personality.
"Flamboyant?" Gareau asked.
"Yes."
"Pulled no punches?"
"Yes."
Family members thanked the mourners for the support and asked that they hold on to Gage's memory. Funeral services are pending and will be in Oelwein.
Joseph Michael Lawrence, 23, of Cedar Falls, is jailed on first-degree murder charges in Gage's death. But Tuesday, those left behind were determined to focus on good memories, not the untimely and grisly death.
Gage, friends say, took pains to introduce himself to new faces at his favorite downtown bar, The Times, and at school.
"Once he knew who you were, you were stuck with him," said Becky Ashton, of Waterloo, accepting a hug from a friend.
"He was the nicest guy in the world," said Karinsa Jackson, of La Porte City. If someone was down, "He'd make 'em laugh just to make 'em happy."
"Anything it took," added Josh Putbrese.
They recalled simple, frivolous idiosyncrasies, like Gage's favorite phrases: "Because." "Hey, hey." "Jason's in the bar" "Ironic." "Time to party."
They remembered his tastes, that Gage preferred liquor to beer. They remembered the last time they were with him.
Gage was honest, especially when sizing up hair styles, and loved to work his magic on friends' locks.
"He's probably done half the people in the parking lot," Jackson said.
He'd listen to what they wanted, then did what he wanted.
Jennie Tyler and Jackson mimicked their friend.
"'No you want to look good,'" said Tyler, who was counting on Gage's help to color her hair.
Or, "'No, this ain't for you, honey,'" Jackson added.
Gage was generous, baby-sitting a friend's kids. He helped another get over phobias.
Taurean Campbell of Cedar Rapids, said Gage took him high up the fire escape at the Russell-Lamson Building.
"Conquered my fear of heights," Campbell said.
The Russell-Lamson, where Gage resided, is where police found his body after friends reported his absence.
Friends and co-workers said Gage worked two jobs and would take time off from school if he felt the need. Gage was also determined to navigate life and relationships his way, on his terms. Period. A free spirit. A risk-taker. And his friends loved him for it.
"We're here to celebrate life," Jackson said.
_________________________________________
WATERLOO - He didn't have any enemies, just friends, and plenty of them. A student hair stylist, he wanted to cut and color in New York. And he was vivacious, an outgoing waiter with a quick wit and a ready smile.
Which is why friends and family of Jason Edwin Gage, 29, an Oelwein native, were shocked to learn he was found dead late Monday of an apparent stabbing in his downtown Waterloo apartment.
Tuesday night, those who loved Gage tried to revive the spirit of their late friend at a candlelight vigil. About 75 gathered outside the College Hair Design, where Gage had been working on his barber styling license.
"He was your Sunday morning, you know? This was going to be the day. No one could rain on his parade," said friend Todd Gareau, of Waterloo.
Gareau broke a somber silence with a 'first meeting' story that sent most in the crowd into fits of laughter.
"I was waiting tables at Perkins and he was hitting on me hard," Gareau said. "He was very persistent. Very persistent. Very persistent."
"I wasn't gay. He didn't care," Gareau added.
He coaxed the mourners to confirm his take on Gage's strong personality.
"Flamboyant?" Gareau asked.
"Yes."
"Pulled no punches?"
"Yes."
Family members thanked the mourners for the support and asked that they hold on to Gage's memory. Funeral services are pending and will be in Oelwein.
Joseph Michael Lawrence, 23, of Cedar Falls, is jailed on first-degree murder charges in Gage's death. But Tuesday, those left behind were determined to focus on good memories, not the untimely and grisly death.
Gage, friends say, took pains to introduce himself to new faces at his favorite downtown bar, The Times, and at school.
"Once he knew who you were, you were stuck with him," said Becky Ashton, of Waterloo, accepting a hug from a friend.
"He was the nicest guy in the world," said Karinsa Jackson, of La Porte City. If someone was down, "He'd make 'em laugh just to make 'em happy."
"Anything it took," added Josh Putbrese.
They recalled simple, frivolous idiosyncrasies, like Gage's favorite phrases: "Because." "Hey, hey." "Jason's in the bar" "Ironic." "Time to party."
They remembered his tastes, that Gage preferred liquor to beer. They remembered the last time they were with him.
Gage was honest, especially when sizing up hair styles, and loved to work his magic on friends' locks.
"He's probably done half the people in the parking lot," Jackson said.
He'd listen to what they wanted, then did what he wanted.
Jennie Tyler and Jackson mimicked their friend.
"'No you want to look good,'" said Tyler, who was counting on Gage's help to color her hair.
Or, "'No, this ain't for you, honey,'" Jackson added.
Gage was generous, baby-sitting a friend's kids. He helped another get over phobias.
Taurean Campbell of Cedar Rapids, said Gage took him high up the fire escape at the Russell-Lamson Building.
"Conquered my fear of heights," Campbell said.
The Russell-Lamson, where Gage resided, is where police found his body after friends reported his absence.
Friends and co-workers said Gage worked two jobs and would take time off from school if he felt the need. Gage was also determined to navigate life and relationships his way, on his terms. Period. A free spirit. A risk-taker. And his friends loved him for it.
"We're here to celebrate life," Jackson said.
Gravesite Details
Jason's ashes are interred here.
