JOSEPH Andrew VANRADEN

Palmer resident Joseph Andrew VanRaden, 15, died Feb. 19, 2006, from injuries in a pedestrian/automobile accident near Palmer.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Lazy Mountain Bible Church on Clark-Wolverine Road near Palmer. Additional services will be held at a later date in the Kenai area.

Joseph was born July 29, 1990, in Crookston, Minn. He attended Tustumena Elementary, Palmer Middle School and Palmer High School. He came to Alaska with his family in 1991, and resided in Kasilof until moving to Palmer in 2003.

His hobbies and special interests were hiking, bike riding, hunting, fishing, track, choir, weight lifting and spending time with family and friends.

His family wrote, &#8220Joseph was the light of our lives. He was a happy young man and will be missed forever. He was the most supportive person in my life, and if it weren't for him, I wouldn't know any of these wonderful people. I considered Joe to be my little brother. No one will ever meet anyone as positive, cheerful and loving. He had the most beautiful heart and I will miss him and love him forever. Joe was the funniest person I ever met; no matter what he was doing, he was making someone laugh, and we will greatly miss him forever.

&#8220Joseph was the light of our lives. He was a happy young man and will be missed forever. He was the most supportive person in my life and if it weren't for him, I wouldn't know any of these wonderful people. I considered Joe to be my little brother. No one will ever meet anyone as positive, cheerful and loving. He had the most beautiful heart and I will miss him and love him forever.

&#8220Joe was the funniest person I ever met; no matter what he was doing, he was making someone laugh and we will greatly miss him forever. Joe will always be missed; he was a gentle giant with a heart of gold. Whoever was around Joe knew he was there by his bold voice and the kindness that he spoke with every word. He was my littlest brother, but was taller than me. He was always called our little big brother and he will live forever in our hearts. You will never meet a 15-year-old young man like him, he was always courteous and nice to everyone he knew, even strangers.

&#8220He was the light of all of our lives and nobody will ever replace the void that is left. He will be missed greatly, more than anybody could ever be missed. If we all lived our lives like Joe, everybody would be nice and respectful to everybody they would meet. Joe was inspirational to all of his family and friends.

&#8220He touched everybody's hearts and filled them full of love and joy. He will be truly missed and love forever. Joe was the nicest, kindest person anyone will ever meet.

&#8220He had a huge heart and could make you laugh until you cried. He has so many jokes, and when he was around, there was never a dull moment. He will be missed for the rest of our lives.”

Joseph's French teacher wrote: &#8220I knew him well because of his impeccable character, work ethic and affective domain ‘his caring for others' were visible through his actions and his words.”

Joseph is survived by his great-grandmother, Esther Sapp of Fort Smith, Ark; grandmother, Gloria VanRaden of Kasilof; grandmother and grandfather, Bill and Kay Wilson of Nevada, Mo.; grandparents, Don and Julie Koberstein; father, Jim VanRaden and Zenaida Fredrick of Kasilof; mother, Debra VanRaden and Todd Robertstein of Palmer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jon and Nikki VanRaden of Soldotna and James and Becky VanRaden of Kasilof; aunts and uncles, Melissa and Harold VanRaden, Debra and Samuel Strange, both of Kasilof, and Terri, Lila and Katie Koberstein; niece and nephew, Jesse and Alyson VanRaden of Kasilof; cousins, Jessica Volk, Brandon Chaffee, Shane Chaffee, and Bradley, Mindy and Jennifer VanRaden, all of Kasilof; friends, Amy Larrable, Joe Browning, Terri Hernandez, Tony Powell and many others, all from Kasilof and Palmer; aunts and uncles, Michelle and Jesse McIntyre, John David Wilson, Kristopher Clay Wilson, Bill Wilson III, Bill BuJardin, Roger BuJardin, and Polly and Andrew Dockery, all of Nevada, Mo., and aunt and uncle, Allisa Silvers and Mike Compton of Kansas City, Mo.

Joseph was preceded in death by his grandfather, Milton VanRaden; grandmother, Wanda Wilson; aunt, Dorothy VanRaden, and grandmother and grandfather Powdall.

A memorial account has been set up at Alaska USA Credit Union, #1257655.

For further information regarding services or flowers, people may call Lazy Mountain Bible Church, 745-2611.