Oskaloosa ? Jacob Pottorf died in an accident last June on a rural Jefferson County highway. His friends and co-workers want to make sure he’s never forgotten.

The 19-year-old Oskaloosa firefighter and two others were killed in a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 59 about three miles south of town.

Next June, the second Jacob Pottorf memorial benefit will take place to raise money to build a park and offer an annual firefighter/emergency medical technician scholarship.

“Firefighting was his passion,” said Rob Henricks, one of the event organizers and close friend of Pottorf. “What better way to remember him than by helping some other local person become a firefighter?”

Pottorf’s parents, David and Robin Pottorf, plan to donate land for the park to Jacob’s Annual Memorial Inc., the corporation formed for the benefit. The park will be on two vacant lots near their house in the 200 block of Herkimer Street in Oskaloosa.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Robin Pottorf said of the park. “All the kids played there.”

“We grew up in that lot — we used to play ball there,” said Jay Powell, an Oskaloosa firefighter and longtime friend of Pottorf. “We went through firefighter training together.”

Preliminary plans call for a tree-lined pathway leading to a flag pole, a bench and a concrete wall.

Pottorf was well-known in the Oskaloosa community and had a lot of friends, Henricks said.

“Jacob was the type of person who was always trying to help,” Henricks said. “We were sitting around talking about what we could do to remember him.”

From left, Robin Pottorf, Jay Powell and David Pottorf are among those raising money for a park in memory of Jacob Pottorf, pictured. Jacob, an Oskaloosa firefighter, was killed in a car accident last June. His parents, Robin and David, hope money raised at a June benefit will cover costs to convert a lot in the 200 block of Herkimer Street, Oskaloosa, into a park.

Pottorf first began working at the fire department in the mid-1990s. At 18, he was old enough to work as a fully trained firefighter. Pottorf also became an emergency medical technician and a medic with the Kansas National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 130th field artillery unit.

About 2 a.m. June 28, Pottorf was in his pickup truck traveling north on U.S. 59 with a passenger, Amber B. Kessler, 18, McLouth. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the truck crossed the centerline and struck a southbound pickup truck driven by Glenn S. Kuhlman, 31, North Kansas City, Mo.

All three were killed.

Oskaloosa firefighters and Jefferson County Emergency Service personnel responded, not knowing their friend and co-worker was involved.

“I was one of the first ones there, and I didn’t even recognize his truck,” EMS director Don Haynes said. “I didn’t know who it was until someone found (Pottorf’s) dog tags and brought them to me. It was a really tough night.”

The first benefit, which was in September, raised about $2,700, Henricks said. The estimated cost of developing the park is $10,000. The first firefighter scholarship will be given out later this year and is expected to be for $250 to $350.

Several activities are planned for the June 21 benefit, which will be at the park site. Hamburgers, hot dogs and soda pop will be served, and a raffle will be offered. A golf tournament also is planned.

.