Ethan is the ultimate Game Champion! We know him to love game time of every sort. Always willing to GAME ON whenever the time allowed. As a hockey player for 14 years, 79 was his jersey number on the ice. While competing with others online, he combined his love of Pokémon and his player number into the game handle, JOLTEON79. Frequently, friends would refer to him as “JOLT” during game play.
As this first year without him comes to an end, we desire to finish strong. We have heard countless stories from all of you – his friends and peers – about how Ethan touched your lives. His capacity stood out as he drew upon Hockey games, card games, strategy/model games and video games to bring others into competitive community. He chose to see the needs of others and invite them into creative game play. Ethan’s goal was to build connection, friendship and show the love of Christ.
We encourage you to join in remembrance with us wherever you are! Anyone can be a Game Champion during our JOLT-ON! Memorial Game Days from May 30th through June 9th. In the spirit of Ethan, be a game champion by inviting some friends into your space and pick a game to share together. Check out our planned noteworthy event links listed in the game schedule below OR plan to host your own!
Game Schedule:
Click on an image below to view Game Day Details!
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last;
1 Corinthians 9:25
but we do it to get a crown that will last forever!
June 9th: Celebrate the Victory!
Make sure to come back and tell us all about it on June 9th! Share a description of your time in the comments. You may send photos to
jolton@wfour.net and we will post them in our game replay content. We are so encouraged when we see all of you sharing community together in the way Ethan would!
Hello Nicole, Joel and Noah,
I have only known Ethan through your memories and stories and I am grateful every time you share Ethan with me. I shared some of these memories of Ethan with my Jolt-On Game Night friends before we jumped into games. When I decided to host Jolt On, I reached out to a few friends who haven’t all been together for a few years and they all came. We started with Left Center Right, and I took Nicole’s suggestion about the “loot” and used Hershey kisses! Who knew chocolate would turn on the competitive spirit in our friend, Linn, who won three rounds in a row!! After that we switched to Dutch Blitz, where Carrie took the crown! Beth and I may not have championed in any of the games but we all treasured the evening of laughter, and reconnecting with friends.
Nancy! What a blessing it is to have you catch the Jolt-on spirit of Ethan and host a game night! I agree, the best loot for Left Center Right is totally chocolate… I can relate very well. What a sweet evening you all had. Sharing the time with us gives us such encouragement and strength. May the re-connection and laughter carry all of you and ignite more game time in the future!
Hello Wang Family,
I got a bunch of Ethan’s friends together to play Minecraft. As is customary, the game was preceded by an hour of IT troubleshooting, but miraculously it worked. Playing video games, it was a toss up whether Ethan was going to be competitive, or a carefree agent of chaos. In Minecraft he was usually the latter. It was really nice to get together and remember the jovial spirit Ethan would bring to games. Especially at a time of such loss. Ethan lives on in the community he has fostered, and the joy he brought, and all the goofy antics he wrought. I am forever grateful for this and that is what we remembered as we played. I sent Mrs Wang the beautiful house that we constructed (it was condemned the second it was built) to attach to the post. So you might see how the carefree agent of chaos bit thrived in our friend group.
One thing I particularly loved about Ethan was his ability to meet people where they were. While gaming he adopted different attitudes and playstyles to make sure everyone was included and having a fun time. He also stayed up way too late on school nights to accommodate the night owls (though i wish he prioritized sleep a little more). That’s the kind of person he was.
My friend, my brother, I wish you could’ve been here to see it. You would’ve been laughing maniacally, or satirically frustrated in the most endearing way. I miss the way we would discuss the trivialities of life or utter nonsense because the way you saw them brings so much joy into my life. I suppose the heartbreak of being cut off from that pales in comparison to all the years I’ve been your friend. I was talking to Sky the other day; you understood us in a way that no one else ever will. It was such a unique and treasured feeling we got around you. Anyway, I’m sorry I got soppy there.
I love you bro,
Cassidy
Thank you all for getting together and doing this! Almost the whole gang!! Your words are so beautiful in remembering the friend and brother he is to you. We have known you all for such a long time. Some of you all the way back to early days of elementary school! Thanks for reminding me of his laugh… takes my breath away. It is amazing and an honor to have you all join in the Game Days. I know Ethan is always on your minds and hearts. Know that you all are always on mine as well.
Also, I have received the amazing GIF you created from the Minecraft session and will be sharing that in our Memorial Game Days RE-Play. Thank you!
–Nicole
Hello Wang Family,
This is Kellie Capps. I met you all while counseling Ethan on the college search process. What a pleasure to know Ethan.
What a fabulous and thoughtful idea.
We are out of town through the 6th but will try to rally a group by the 9th. We live in Missouri now. What a great opportunity to deepen our newly formed relationships. God Bless you.
Kellie, Yes! We remember you and the wisdom you provided as he was getting ready to start at Purdue University. So good to hear from you! Thanks for joining our Memorial Game Days with those you are getting to know now that you are in Missouri. Looking forward to hearing all about it!
–Nicole