Brandyn S. Van Dyke, went to be with the Lord much too early, on Saturday evening, May 12, 2012, following injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was 21 years young and of Galion.
On January 6, 1991, Brandyn was born in Morrow County Hospital in Mount Gilead, the son of Scott Van Dyke and Sharla (Sharrock) Hedrick. He recently graduated from Northmor High School in the Class of 2009, where he enjoyed participating in the F.F.A.
A dedicated worker, Brandyn enjoyed helping his grandfather and uncle, Tim and Ben Sharrock, at the Liberty Mill in Galion. He often worked two jobs, helping to milk the dairy cows at the Walker farm whenever they needed him.
Having a deep faith, Brandyn had worshipped in many places and was baptized when he was younger at the New Vision Nazarene Community Church in Marion. He often talked about how he felt called to become a youth pastor. His family’s heavy hearts are uplifted knowing that he is waiting for them in Heaven.
With a love for the outdoors, Brandyn enjoyed spending time with his family on their many hunting and fishing excursions. He loved hunting “wherever his Dad got him permission to”, and especially enjoyed when they hunted together. He also loved the yearly Van Dyke mushroom hunting and salmon fishing adventures in Michigan, and fishing in his grandfather Keny Van Dyke’s big pond.
Quite “the comedian”, Brandyn always kept you on your toes and could even make you laugh through the toughest times. He could best be described as a “big kid”, who loved to tease and playfully antagonize his family and friends, especially his three sisters and brother. All of his cousins also loved when Brandyn was around, because they knew he would be the first to get on the ground and wrestle and play with them.
“A social butterfly”, Brandyn had a fun loving and jovial personality that made it impossible not to love him. He was always spending time with his friends, and his motto was always the more the merrier.
Most important of all to Brandyn was his family, and they will forever miss him and cherish his memory.
He will be dearly missed by his parents: Scott (Michelle) Van Dyke of Galion, and Sharla (Marc) Hedrick of Butler; his siblings: Taylor Van Dyke of Galion, Kiera (Jacob) Brinley of Crestline, and Jacob and Clara Hedrick of Butler; grandparents: Keny and Sharon Van Dyke of Cardington, Tim (Connie) Sharrock of Mount Gilead, Jean Sharrock of Hilliard, Evelyn Hedrick of Waldo, and Patrick and Brenda Grosh of Mount Gilead; 10 uncles and aunts: Cory (Krista) Van Dyke, Mindy Loss, Ron Jackson, Sherrie Jackson, Trent Sharrock, Timberlee (Mitchell) Madeker, Ben (Bethany) Sharrock, Michael (Ruth) Roush, Eris Roush, and Carmen Roush; numerous cousins and many many dear friends.
Brandyn’s family will greet friends from 4 – 8 p.m. on Friday, May 18, 2012, at the Gilead Friends Church, 3613 Twp. Rd. 115, Mount Gilead. Services celebrating his life and his homecoming will also be held there on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Dennis Turner of NewLife Community Church in Fredericktown officiating. Burial will follow in Butter Cemetery in Marengo.
Memorial contributions may be made to Brandyn Van Dyke Memorial Fund, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home at 76 S. Main St., Mount Gilead, OH 43338.
His family would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all of their and Brandyn’s dear friends for their loving support at this difficult time. They also would like to acknowledge that he made a bad decision, as we all have, and to have this be a learning lesson for your younger generations. Be as safe as possible in all instances, and embrace and cherish the one’s you love. And while this is an incredibly sad time, they still want to celebrate the life of this wonderful young man, whom they loved so much.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to have been chosen to serve Brandyn’s family and your private condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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