Flags across Michigan flew at half-staff for the funeral of Brandon Stout, 23, an Army specialist in the Michigan National Guard’s 47th division.
Stout, a member of West Leonard Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, died Jan. 23 when shrapnel from an explosive device hit his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq.
ҵ of Stout’s death deeply affected the mid-sized congregation. “It really brought the war close to home,” said Rev. Neil Jasperse.
Stout had served as an assistant youth leader and had a vibrant relationship with God, Jasperse said. “He was outgoing, fun, and had a real zest for life. He had a sense of having a mission not just for our country but for God.”
Stout is survived by his wife, Audrey Hinken Stout, his parents, and his siblings.
About the Author
Roxanne VanFarowe is a freelance writer who claims both Canadian and American citizenship and grew up in the Christian Reformed Church. She is a member of Blacknall Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina.
