Jodi Eskelsen graduated from Big Piney High School in 1992. As a student, Miss Eskelsen was highly involved in athletics and academics. She was a member of the National Honor Society. As an athlete, Jodi was twice named to the all-conference selection in both volleyball and basketball. In track, Jodi qualified for the state meet and placed in each of her four years. As a senior this athlete earned all-state honors in both volleyball and track.
After graduation, Jodi Eskelsen enrolled at Black Hills University and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Tourism and Industry Travel Management. Employment was waiting for Jodi upon graduation at the New York Cotton Exchange. Her office was on the 5th floor of the World Trade Center #5 in the Wall Street District of New York. Jodi’s duties there included writing and proofreading informational and educational brochures. She credits her English teacher, HT Graham, for the ability to be able to perform those duties that others there could not.
A number of issues and friends led Jodi to change her course in life. Separating herself from the world of finance and greed, Jodi turned to humanitarian efforts and to pet grooming. She donated much of her time to various causes most of which involved pets. She did however, include adopting seniors in the New Jersey area in which she lived. Taking these “old” friends to the store, to doctor appointments or just listening to their stories and helping them whenever needed. With encouragement from these friends, Jodi joined CAPS – Companion Animal Placement Services.
Almost immediately Jodi was put to the test. From her home in Hoboken, New Jersey, she could see and feel the aftermath of 9/11 across the Hudson River. For days, she volunteered to search homes for pets that were orphaned on that dreadful day. Some of which lost their owners who worked in World Trade Center #5. A few years later, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The call was made and Jodi left her home and family, by traveling to search out pets that were left behind in the devastation there. Not a pretty site as she remembers now.
Jodi has fostered hundreds, (if not thousands a friend says), of pets over the past years. She and her family have welcomed cats, dogs, birds, and hampsters into their lives even in times that have not been the best. In 2016, Jodi was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through the treatment. At the same time, she helped a friend who was also going through cancer treatment saying it is better to focus on their needs than fret about my own. Through her husband John’s leadership role in the Elks Foundation, Jodi heads the “In Need Committee” that volunteers and raises funds for the needs of the people in Franklin, Tennessee.
This humanitarian survivor along with her husband John and two daughters, Rose and Remy, animal lovers as well, live in Franklin, Tennessee where she is still active in grooming and fostering pets in need.