Baccam, Anoulack 1981-2006

BACCAM, STARK

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 11/3/2006 at 21:26:14

Anoulack Baccam, 25, of Ankeny, Iowa and formerly of Pella, went to be with the Lord on August 8, 2006 after his life-long struggle with Thalassemia. His illness finally took Anoulack after a lengthy and courageous admission at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

For Celebration of Anoulack's all too brief life, family and friends met with the family in the Taidam tradition at the home of his parents, mother Teuy Baccam-Stark and step-father Patrick (Pat) Stark.

Formal visitation were held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 12th at the Faith Christian Reformed Church on University and 12th Street in Pella. The funeral service, were conducted by Anoulack's mentor, advisor, and very close friend Pastor Mike Rasavanh, were at 1 p.m. Sunday, August 13th at the First Church of the Open Bible, 2200 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines.

A private cremation followed the funeral service with inurnment planned for a later date at the Taidam section of Glenwood Cemetery in Des Moines. Food and refreshments were offered for all immediately after the funeral service at the Asian Church of the Open Bible, 1300 Buchanan Street in Des Moines. Arrangements have been made by the Garden Chapel Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thalassemia Foundation or the Asian Church of the Open Bible Youth Group, C/O the Garden Chapel Funeral Home, 1301 Main Street, Pella, IA 50219-1109.

Anoulack Patrick Baccam was born February 12th, 1981 at the Pella Regional Hospital. His mother, Teuy Hoang Baccam, named her son Anoulack, in Laotian meaning "my cherished one in life" or "my beloved one or souvenir from my life's journey". Anoulack's father, Thoykam Baccam, preceded his son in death from an automobile accident in 1993. Anoulack was Thoy and Teuy's only child.

Anoulack attended Pella Community Schools and his friends knew him by the nickname of "Lucky", and his family gave Anoulack the name "Tou Tou". Lucky was very active in high school including Pella Little Dutch basketball where he served his school as the team manager throughout high school. The highly successful Little Dutch were the runner-up team during the 1999 Iowa High School Basketball Tournament.

During Lucky's recent illness at St. Mary's Hospital, Kyle Kover, teammate from Pella High School and now with the NBA 76er's, called Lucky more than once with words of encouragement for his ailing classmate. Hearing from Kyle really brightened Lucky's spirits. Lucky was also an avid tennis player in and after high school, with the high-point of his tennis career being a well respected team placement at State. Lucky was a member of the National Honor Society, graduating from PHS in 1999.

Lucky enrolled at the University of Iowa after high school majoring in chemistry. Lucky was on the Dean's List at Iowa and he later enrolled at DMACC, where he graduated with honors as a medical laboratory technician. Always an avid Hawkeye Fan, there was no Iowa football or basketball game go by without Lucky following the team to the hilt. Lucky and fiancée Beverly adopted a little Chihuahua mix puppy they named "Hawkeye". Lucky worked at Des Moines Methodist Hospital as a med lab tech until he became too ill to keep working.

Lucky is survived by his parents, step-father Patrick (Pat) Stark, mother Teuy Baccam-Stark and a very loving, large and extended family including many uncles, aunts, and cousins. The love of his life and fiancée, Ms. Beverly Mahavong of Rockford, Illinois, was by Lucky's side with loving devotion constantly throughout his illness this summer. Beverly and Lucky's parents were by his side at the end, and words cannot describe the sadness and hurt felt with Lucky's passing, truly heart wrenching.

Lucky was an inspiration to us all. During his brief time with us, Lucky enjoyed life to the utmost, making the best of what he could do given his health and focusing on Christian Fellowship. An excellent singer, the joy of his life was being with and performing with all his friends in the Asian Church Open Bible Youth Group, and sharing all with Beverly.

Beverly and the family want to thank everyone for the kind words, thoughts, prayers and visitations to Rochester for Lucky during the stressful and emotionally laden past few weeks.

Anoulack was loved and or admired by all who knew him, and we were Lucky to have known him. Lucky Baccam will be greatly missed.

The Pella Chronicle, August 18, 2006