Valley Southwoods Student Carson Vandeventer Remembered for His 'Big Heart'

"I'm so very proud to call him my brother," said an emotional Craig Vandeventer.

He stood near his 14-year-old brother's casket and in front of hundreds of mourners at Plymouth Congregational Church Tuesday. They gathered to remember Carson Vandeventer, a student who was described as having a "big heart" and who radiated "life and love." 

"Carson was always a happy boy and brother," said Craig.

"He will be missed dearly," he said with a breaking voice.

Outside sat a gold hearse.

Inside, atop a wood casket, sat a picture of Carson. The photo was surrounded by black and orange, the team colors of Valley Southwoods Freshman High School, where he was a student. He ran cross country and track, and he was a member of  the men's swim team. He was active in theater, the Boy Scouts and the church choir.

Carson Vandeventer "radiated life and love"

Minister Angie Witmer told mourners who packed the church about Carson's zeal for life, his love of family and friends and his drive to excel. Craig VandeVenter described him as an "elite athlete" and "natural competitor."

"It wasn't the drive to excel that he will be remembered for," she said. "It's the way Carson cared for and loved all of the people he was with that he will be remembered for."

Carson took his own life on April 15, and the West Des Moines community has felt the loss.

"People loved Carson. He knew he was loved," Witmer said. "Clearly, there was a split second where he forgot. One brief moment of forgetfulness has broken our hearts."

That act broke God's heart, too, she said. 

"One thing I want to make sure you all hear today: God did not cause this to happen. God did not prevent this from happening. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love Carson. That's the amazing thing about this God of ours. God loves us enough that we are given the freedom to choose what do do with our life."

She said God's heart was the first to break.

"I have no doubt in my mind that God's heart was the first one to break when Carson died last Sunday," Witmer said.

But while he was alive, Witmer said, his big, loving family encouraged him to explore life and to really live,.

The eight-page funeral program shows a smiling, active boy wearing a Valley uniform, running track, fishing and standing with various red, white and blue medals around his neck.

Witmer encourged mourners to talk, be real and to "let some of the pain out" as they cope.

"We're not alone," she said. "We're never alone. We belong to God. Nothing will ever change that."

Green, purple, yellow and red glow sticks held by mourners marked the end of the service.

"Make good choices," Witmer said. "Life life fully and holy and know that you are not alone."

The program read: "We will never be the same as we were before this loss, but we are ever so much better for have had something great to lose." 

Carson was the son of Susan Vandeventer, the coach of Valley High School's Tiger Lillies synchronized swimming team, and her husband, Brian. Carson has two older brothers, Conner, a Valley High School senior, and Craig, a 2008 Valley graduate.

Carson Vandeventer will be laid to rest during a private committal on Wednesday, April 25, at Jordan Cemetery on Fuller Road in West Des Moines.

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