Braden Lane Strebeck

Funeral services for Braden Lane Strebeck, 5, of Lufkin will be held Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Harmony Hill Baptist Church with Brother Dean Johnson, Ray Mahaffey and Ben Brittain officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Braden Lane Strebeck was born July 7, 2008 to Dustina Mitchell of Lufkin, Texas and Jason Strebeck of Zwolle, Louisiana. He was a miracle, a beautiful blue eyed baby boy who quickly filled the lives of everyone he met with love and joy. At the tender age of 3, he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer he fought with a dignity and grace far surpassing his years until he received his final healing from God at the age of 5 on July 22, 2013.

Braden is survived by his Mommy, Dustina Mitchell of Lufkin, Texas; Dad and sisters, Jason, Jessica and Kayla Strebeck of Louisiana; grandparents, Frank and Karen Mitchell of Lufkin, Texas; grandmother, Jessie Strebeck of Louisiana; great-grandmother, Norma Braden of Lufkin, Texas; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Braden loved spending time outside and learning everything he could about God’s Creation. He also loved trains and would spend hours playing with steamies and diesels on many imaginative adventures. Braden loved learning, pirates and Star Wars. Braden was a collector of words and truly appreciated expanding his vocabulary every chance he could. Braden wanted to grow up and be a doctor so he would know everything about cancer and keep it away from himself and other kids. Braden had recently been accepted into the Lufkin ISD P.A.C.E. program and was looking forward to starting kindergarten in the fall.

Braden’s sweet spirit and outgoing personality won him many friends along his cancer journey. He would eagerly tell people he was “smashing cancer bugs to smithereens: and “to please pray for me, I’m on Facebook: Prayers for Braden:B-R-A-D-E-N”. Braden’s journey attracted prayer warriors from all over the world and in turn we were blessed to meet many people. Braden loved his gold ribbons and wanted everyone to be aware of childhood cancer. God loaned a special child to our family so we could see His face and feel His love more clearly.

We ask that you not wear black if you choose to attend our services. Although we are deeply mourning the loss of this most precious child, his family would like to spend this time celebrating his amazing life and the blessings that came with it. His favorite color was green.

His family regards the day Braden raised his final "up hands" to his Heavenly Father as a celebration, because this is the last day Braden ever knew pain. We are singing, as Braden has so many times before: “Bless the Lord O my soul…worship His holy name. Sing like never before, O my soul. I’ll worship Your holy name.”

In keeping with Braden's mission to smash cancer bugs to smithereens, we ask that in lieu of flowers, a donation in Braden's name be made to any of the following organizations who so touched his life: Peach’s Neet Feet, online at www.peachsneetfeet.com, Northwoods Casket Co. Tree Farm, 1214 N. Center Street, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 53916, Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, 360 W. Schick Road, Suite 23 #211, Bloomington, Illinois 60108 or online at cncfhope.org, or Give Kids The World, online at www.gktw.org.

Pallbearers will be Mike Chissus, John Oliver, Austin Moreno, Brian Adamson, Tyler Adamson and Trey Adamson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Chase Dykes, Tucker Dykes, Sgt. Efren Moreno, Travis Adamson and the Deacons at Old Pisgah Baptist Church.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Carroway Funeral Home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.