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Services Held for Young Ryen Vanden Broeder
LIBERTY, MO (September 2, 2004) - Funeral services were held Tuesday at the
United Methodist Church in Liberty for eight-year-old Ryen Vanden
Broeder who died last Thursday (August 26) of heatstroke while getting
in shape for his team's football season.
Vanden Broeder, who attended Liberty Springs Covenant Church with his
family, was
exercising at home during a humid day and collapsed while walking on a
treadmill, according to a report by the Kansas City Star.
Born November 6, 1995, Vanden Broeder was a multi-sport athlete who
played recreational league baseball and basketball and was a medalist
for an area swim club. A good student, the third-grader was passionate
about football and wanted to play professionally some day.
Even more significant, Vanden Broeder was passionate about his Christian
walk. He professed his faith in Jesus when he was baptized at age four
and believed he would be a minister someday. In the Star story,
Ryen's pastor, Glen Smith, recalled how Ryan would draw football plays
on his church bulletins and add a Christian cross to symbolize his faith.
"He filled the world with his loving ways and his enormous character,"
his family stated in an obituary written prior to Tuesday's memorial
service. "His kindness will transcend his death and remain with those
who knew him. The tallest in his class, he was a defender of the meek
and was a naturally gifted teacher of sportsmanship and the way to
totally live one's faith in God . . . the energy that he put into his
faith outshined even his passion for sports and academics. His faith was
mature, deeply abiding and extremely natural. Ryen's words and actions
consistently proclaimed his belief in Christ's love . . ."
Vanden Broeder is survived by his parents, Robert and Kelli, and
siblings Robyn, Robert and Russell, along with many grandparents and
great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. It is suggested that
memorial gifts may be given in lieu of flowers to
Liberty Springs Covenant Church, PO Box 149, Liberty, MO, 64069-0149.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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