BVU campus mourns the loss of 2015 alum Brett Heitkamp

Stephanie Steiner + Kiley Wellendorf | Co-Editors-in-Chief

On October 3, Buena Vista University’s campus received news that 2015 graduate, Brett Heitkamp, had passed away at the age of 22. Heitkamp was found unresponsive on Sunday morning, while staying with family. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Students gathered at BVU’s arch on Sunday, October 4 to celebrate his life with a candlelight memorial.

Lining the entrance of the arch, students stood shoulder-to-shoulder in silence as University Chaplain Ken Meissner spoke, followed by memories from students who came forward to reflect on their relationship with Heitkamp. Tissue boxes were passed around as memories of inside jokes, heartbreak and strength began to surround the crowd. Before leaving the vigil, groups gathered and embraced each other in hugs after placing candles in front of the two photos: one featuring Heitkamp on the basketball court, the other a photo with Heitkamp and girlfriend and 2015 BVU graduate, Natalie Bellairs.

Heitkamp graduated in May 2015 with degree in management and a concentration in sports management. During his time at BVU, Heitkamp was involved in IMPACT, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and was a three-time letter winner on the BVU basketball team. Many also remember Heitkamp from his role as a work study student in the Student Affairs Office. Upon graduation, he was seeking an opportunity to play basketball in Europe, hoping to eventually coach there, as well. While waiting for the basketball opportunity, he was coaching and leading camps with Court Time Basketball in Des Moines.

Remembered as someone who reached out to many on campus, Heitkamp’s spirituality and personality are two key factors BVU community members who knew him well continuously reflect on.

“If Brett would want one thing for the BV campus, it would be everyone had a faith and that everyone did the same as he did — reach out,” Meissner said. “Reach out with your goofiness, reach out with your faith, reach out with your talents and gifts and just celebrate life, because he did.”

Brady Haye, senior and former two-year suite-mate of Heitkamp’s, remembers Brett’s character and the brotherhood the duo created together.

“I will never forget this time of year last year, because it was Brett’s senior year and Homecoming was quickly approaching. The nomination forms were submitted, and if you knew Brett, you knew he would be nominated. He always joked with me that he apparently got the most nominations, which was interesting because I’m not sure how he would have found that out. Once the deadline passed for nominations, busy ol’ Brett of course made a mistake that I never let him live down,” Haye said.

“He forgot to fill out the papers required to be up for nomination, so popular ol’ Brett was never eligible for Homecoming court or more importantly, Homecoming King. Ever since that day, he and I always joked about it, because I believe a lot of people believed that he deserved to be on court. This is a memory that I will always cherish about Brett and continue to giggle about. It was truly an honor and privilege for me to be nominated this year, and I now truly believe that Brett and I got nominated together this year.”

Haye believes sharing memories of Heitkamp is key during this time of grieving.

“We all deal with grief in a different way,” Meissner said. “You learn about grief by a relationship with one another. Once you’ve hit young adulthood, you see the reality of it and realize that grief is a process.”

Meissner encourages anyone who needs anything in this time of grief to reach out to him, other Student Affairs personnel, or the Director of Counseling Services, Mandy Boothby.

“Though he is no longer walking on this Earth, you can always hold a piece of Brett Heitkamp within your heart,” Meissner said. “If you can share a little bit of Brett Heitkamp, his life is going to carry on.”

Visitation will be held Friday, October 9, 2015, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines and the funeral service will be on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Johnston Evangelical Free Church, 9901 NW 62nd Ave. in Johnston, IA. Private family burial will be at Lincoln Cemetery in Polk City, IA. For more information, visit Hamilton’s Funeral Home.