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Submitted: 1/11/18 • Approved: 1/12/18 • Last Updated: 1/15/18 • R1207123-G0-S3
June 22, 1992 - Nov 20, 2011
A shooting star reached heavenward on Sunday, November 20, 2011- its glow can still be seen. Garrett Cole Uekman was born on June 22, 1992 and filled our lives with joy for 19 years.
Garrett attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School in North Little Rock and later attended Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock. He was a dedicated student and a talented athlete in baseball, basketball, and football. He played a contributing role in the first Basketball State Championship title that Catholic High School achieved in 2008. He always dreamed of playing football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and tirelessly pursued his dream. He signed with the Razorbacks in the Spring of 2010 with the belief that dreams do come true and had visions of making his "mark" in football. On this day, though our hearts are broken, our spirits rejoice at the many tributes that have been made in his name and the outpouring of love for our precious Garrett. Words cannot describe how proud we are of his accomplishments and the "mark" he made in this world in such a short span of time. He had a zest for life that was visible to all who knew him.
Garrett leaves behind his loving parents, Danny and Michelle Uekman, and his adoring sister, Meagan; his grandparents, Marie Bennett (and the late John Bennett) and Ed and Ida Jane Uekman; his aunts and uncles, Sandy and Robbie Uekman, Mike and Rene Bennett, John and Leslie Bennett, Kathryn Pruss and Mark Pruss; and cousins, Kaley(and Gabriel) Krug, Chase Bennett, Jacob, Connor, and Emma Pruss, Liam Bennett, the late Denton and Clint Pitts, and his special friend, Leah Stwart. He also leaves behind his entire Razorback family – coaches, players, trainers, assistants, and fellow students. All of whom he loved very much.
A rosary will be held for Garrett at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 5:00pm, with visitation from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm at Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock. A private burial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Catholic High School Foundation: Garrett Uekman Scholarship fund.
Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., 758-1170.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A heart condition that likely was undiagnosed killed the University of Arkansas football player who was found unconscious in his dorm room over the weekend, a coroner said Tuesday.
Washington County coroner Roger Morris said that to the best of his knowledge, Garrett Uekman's condition, called cardiomyopathy, was not previously detected. In the condition, the heart becomes enlarged.
Uekman, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman tight end, was last seen by his roommate playing video games Sunday morning. He was found unresponsive in his dorm room an hour later and was in cardiac arrest by the time emergency services personnel arrived. He was pronounced dead shortly after noon.
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long has said the university wasn't aware of any pre-existing medical condition for Uekman. A university spokesman declined comment because school officials hadn't yet seen the written report.
Uekman's toxicology report came back with no indications of improper drug use, Morris said. He said the manner of death was natural. University police have said there were no suspicious circumstances about Uekman's death.
Weekend funeral services will be held in Little Rock.
There are several types of cardiomyopathy, though it wasn't clear which type Uekman suffered from, Morris said. One kind, called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, thickens the heart and makes it harder to pump blood, and is often the culprit when young athletes suddenly collapse and die. Symptoms can include an irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. In many cases, it goes undetected.
"This young man may have not shown any signs (being) in that great of physical shape," Morris said.
Several thousand mourners gathered in Fayetteville on Monday for a candlelight vigil to remember Uekman. His picture remained on the videoboard at the Bud Walton Arena throughout the ceremony, and those in attendance wore stickers that had black ribbons wrapped in red with a white "88" on them, in honor of Uekman's number.
Contributed on 1/11/18 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1207123