For Jeff Laurence, the past year has been marked by unimaginable loss of his best friend, his father, and most recently, his wife. Each passing brought its own weight, but the cumulative grief has reshaped his perspective on life, love, and resilience. Jeff lost his closest friend, Craig Robinson, on December 10th, 2023. Craig was just 51 when he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. Barely two months later, Jeff’s father, Tony Bredstrand, died of a stroke at the age of 74 on February 3rd, 2024. And then, in a devastating blow, Jeff lost his wife, Kelli Laurence, to a heart attack on November 4th, 2024. She was just 55.

Kelli and Jeff had built a full life together since settling in Mill Creek in 2000, raising four children together--Kamryn (27), Jackson (24), Kaitlyn (20), and Jacob (17). The three oldest graduated from Jackson High School and Jake will as well in 2026. Together, they built a home full of tradition, connection, and love.

At the time of Kelli’s passing, the couple had been staying at their vacation home in Arizona, hosting friends for the week. As the guests departed, Kelli decided she needed a bit of personal time and headed to the gym. Hours passed with no word, and Jeff began to grow concerned. Then, a call came. But not from the gym, or the hospital, but from his JL Remodeling office in Washington. Kelli had been wearing some JL Remodeling gear, which helped gym staff track down a point of contact when they couldn’t reach anyone else. Kelli suffered a heart attack during her workout. Though her heart had been revived, her brain had gone without oxygen for 23 minutes. Despite a fierce fight, it became clear she would not recover. “If the stroke hadn’t happened with my dad, I wouldn’t have had those kinds of conversations with Kelli,” Jeff shared. “So I flew all the kids down and we were all able to talk about what each of them needed. We were together as a family.”

Kelli, who had chosen to be an organ donor, ultimately gave the gift of life to four individuals. Her legacy continues through that selfless act, a powerful reminder of the compassion and strength she embodied. Jeff is now navigating a life that looks entirely different than it did a year ago. “I’ve learned a lot through this journey, and it’s still ongoing,” he says. “I am determined not to let the trauma win. I don’t want to ‘get through’ this. I want to savor the grief and be present with it. Feeling grief is a reflection of the love that I had for my wife. I don’t want to avoid talking about her because I don’t want to forget her, and I know I’m not going to.” 

Rather than retreat, Jeff chose to channel his grief into something unexpected: a physical and emotional challenge unlike any other. A close friend invited him to join an expedition to Mount Everest Base Camp. Though the trip was already planned, Jeff saw it as an opportunity to heal. “I decided to set a goal that’s way out of my comfort zone,” he explains. “In order to climb to the Everest Base Camp, I knew I’d need to get in shape, which got me out of bed and forced me to take care of myself. I’d always been driven mentally, but now that’s flipped. I had to eat and sleep properly and hike regularly to prepare my body. That’s what helped my mental health.”

This transformation has been as internal as it is physical. “I’m learning about myself,” Jeff says. “I’m doing the counseling, the journaling, I’m exercising and eating right. I’m doing the work. I’ve realized how hard I am on myself and I’m learning to give myself grace. I don’t want to measure my days by what I got done, but by how I feel when I reflect on them. Is each day or week better than the last? That’s what I’m asking.” To those still fortunate to have their loved ones close, Jeff offers a simple but profound reminder:

 

Jeff is still processing the impact of his journey, both the climb and everything it unearthed within him. He plans to launch a podcast soon as a space to “unpack” the experience, share what he’s learned, and continue exploring the emotional terrain of grief and growth.

“I feel less depressed...not like the grief is pulling me down anymore,” Jeff reflects. “Eating right, getting in shape… it cleared the fog in my mind. It helped me overcome some of the heavier thoughts. I feel energized now.”

Looking back, Jeff shares that the physical feat of reaching Everest Base Camp has helped him see he can take on the things at home that used to feel like mountains, too. Since returning, he has started reclaiming parts of daily life that once felt insurmountable. “I finally slept in our primary bedroom for the first time since Kelli passed. And now, I feel ready to start going through the closet—her things. I also had my first day back in the office,” he says. 

His upcoming podcast will also explore how to support someone who is grieving. Jeff has noticed how often people want to help but simply don’t know what to say or do. By opening up about his own experience, he hopes to create space for honest conversations and meaningful connection. Jeff’s story doesn’t end here. In many ways, it’s just the beginning of a new chapter. With renewed clarity and strength, he wants to show others that even in profound loss, there is still life, purpose, and possibility.