At teen hiker’s memorial, hundreds celebrate a vibrant life

By Brian Nordli

Wednesday, May 29, 2013 | 11:15 p.m.

Andrew Sasse loved all things Bonanza High School, all things people and all things Jesus Christ in his 17 years of life. It was fitting, then, that the Shadow Hills Church gymnasium was filled with all those things on Wednesday for his memorial service.

About 400 people gathered wearing shirts and dresses of highlighter pinks and lime greens and turquoise blues as the family requested. Bright, bold colors — Andrew’s favorites. Family members, friends and classmates from Bonanza, and fellow church-goers came together to remember Andrew and comfort each other during a difficult time.

“Andrew was a great son, and I know he had an impact on many, many lives,” Sasse’s father said at the start of the service. “We’ll all get through this … It is not something you get over, you just get through.”

Just two days prior, Sasse’s body was found in the Calico Tanks area of the Calico Basin. Sasse had been hiking at Red Rock Canyon with his friends on Memorial Day when he went off on his own and failed to return.

Sasse was a member of Bonanza’s student government, a leader during his time at the Nevada Boy’s State Conference (a weeklong civics-based summer camp) and an active member at Shadow Hills Church.

The service was filled with touches that cherished Sasse’s life. A Shadow Hills church band led the memorial with a few Christian rock songs including one of Andrew’s favorites — “One Thing Remains.” Afterward, the Shadow Hills high school pastor Henry Lopez gave a sermon about Sasse.

“The goal for tonight is simple — to provide a place for comfort,” Lopez said in his sermon. “We share a love, an admiration, a connection, a wide range of experiences and incredible memories of Andrew.”

He recalled a recent church snowboarding trip Sasse attended, in which he rode the steepest slopes and attempted back flips off the biggest jumps, even though his skills weren’t advanced enough. He was nuts, joked Lopez, but that was Sasse. He gave it his all, Lopez said.

Then he read a letter Sasse had written reflecting on the trip; the two pages seemingly bringing Andrew back to life. The letter was littered with introspection and self-awareness, as Sasse reaffirmed his commitment to his faith. The audience chuckled and welled with tears as they listened.

At the end, the Sasse family gathered in a huddle at the front of the congregation and prayed, and the mourners held out their hands in support for the Sasses — for Andrew.