Avery Andersen

Some lights shine bright but much too short on this earth. That was Avery. The son of Sue and Steve Andersen, Avery Carl was born in an ice storm during the state wrestling tournament on February 24, 2001, in Des Moines, Iowa. He returned to his savior on December 23, 2021, after being involved in a single-car accident just a mile from his home.

Avery’s faith was a cornerstone of his life. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic. But nowhere did his light shine brighter than as a counselor at Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp. His love of the Lord was contagious and influenced many around him.

A 2019 graduate of Atlantic High School, Avery’s passion was music and performance. He was an active participant in musicals and band and loved to share his gifts. As a senior, Avery fulfilled a lifelong goal when he was selected as a member of Iowa High School Music Association’s All-State Chorus. He frequently sang the National Anthem at Des Moines Buccaneers games. Avery also was a proud Eagle Scout, having provided vehicle preparedness kits for young drivers.

Avery was born a Cyclone. Avery’s lifelong passion for Iowa State led him to study meteorology at his beloved university. He was fascinated by storms and the science of weather from the age of three. Family and friends knew they could turn to Avery for a personal weather report at any time. He found his home in brotherhood and faith when he joined Beta Sigma Psi Fraternity. In his free time at Iowa State, he was also an enthusiastic member of the Cyclone Hockey Pep Band.

Avery is survived by his parents, his grandparents Sheri Conn of Lewis and Larry and Karen Andersen of Ankeny and Clarence and Darlene Gansemer of Sherrill.

Additional family includes many aunts, uncles, and cousins: Shelly and Chris (Paige) Harden of Grimes. If you ask Paige though, Avery was her brother. Becky and Scott (Alex and Harley) McDonald of Slater, Jennifer and Eric (Jessica and Mackenzie) Connor of Grimes, Chris and Emily (Jagger, Beckam, Everly) Odgaard of Ankeny, Chad and Tara (Chloe, Lucy, Simon) Andersen of Ankeny, Joel and Cindy (Allyson, Skylar) Conn of Pleasant Hill, Janine and Kirk (Hannah, Andrew, Emma) Sunderman of Davenport, Jim and Barb (Allan, Jason, Laura) Gansemer of Sherrill, Linda and Dale (Brian, Travis, Brooke, Mitch) Brandel of Sherrill, Jean and Steve (Ashley, Casey) Link of Dubuque. Avery will be missed by his girlfriend Ashley Stueven of George.

Avery is preceded in death by his grandfather Jim Conn.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family with donations to be determined at a later date, and they may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home (PO Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022).

Visitation with the family present will be on Monday, December 27, 2021, from 4 pm until 7 pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic with the family present.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. A luncheon will be held immediately following the funeral service and will take place at the Atlantic Highschool. The funeral service will be live streamed and may be located at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home's page or St. Paul's Lutheran Church Page.

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic is handling the arrangements for the Andersen Family.