Deklynd Casseday

August 27, 2019 — November 25, 2023

Pierce

Deklynd Oliver Casseday couldn’t wait to get started in the world.

Born six weeks premature in the early morning of Aug. 27, 2019, “Dek,” as he was often called, spent the next four years taking in all the world had to offer, and making sure everyone knew how much they meant to him.

“He was ready to be in the world,” his father, Jase, said in recalling when mother, Shilo, went into labor. “(He was ready to) start experiencing what we were experiencing, and be with us.”

It hurts to try to sum up a life, at any stage. But when it comes to the life story of a child, that pain is magnified. There are the many precious moments that make up countless memories of love and happiness, but there’s also the agony of unrealized dreams for the man he could have been.

It was a routine Saturday on Nov. 25, 2023, and the family was going about its errands, which included heading out from their home outside Pierce to go grocery shopping.

“It was a typical weekend, nothing different, and it really can be taken from you in the blink of an eye,” Shilo said. “It’s a good reminder that life really is too short and a lot of people don’t take that into consideration until something tragic happens to them.”

Jase and Shilo emphasized that the tragedy is a key reminder about what’s really important.

“We’ve all been through things but it really is so important: make the time and hold people close,” Shilo said. “If we did one thing right, it was in making the time. We gave him time so that he knew he felt loved, and he was genuinely happy,” even for the small things.

At that age, family really is a child’s everything, and it was no different for Dek.

“I feel like his first word was ‘dad,’ ” Shilo said. “He was always a daddy’s boy.”

Deklynd and his brothers — older brother, Jayden, and little brother, Rowyn — would always want to be with Jase when he was working on cars out in his shop. But the similarities with his dad started even earlier: as opposed to gravitating toward certain toys, he always carried his “blankie, cup and binky,” just like Dad when he was young.

“Deklynd would have two or three binkies in his mouth at a time,” Shilo said. “In his clothes, in his bag, in his blankets. If we couldn’t find them, we knew he would have a stash of them.”

Jase and Shilo’s commitment to family is reflected in all of their kids. They all thought about each other for the most part, they said. Deklynd would usually grab two or three toys or pieces of candy, to make sure each of his brothers got their share.
“They were each other’s best friend,” Shilo said. “We loved to watch them work things out.”

Jase added that they were “like a legit little team. They did do their fighting like brothers do, but mostly they were partners in crime.”

Deklynd was looking forward to following Jayden into school, to wear a backpack and take a lunch; essentially, do whatever his big brother was doing. He wanted to play basketball and soccer.

“He wasn’t interested until he watched Jayden doing it,” Shilo said.

In fact, his favorite Denver Broncos shirt was similar to Jayden’s soccer jersey, and Dek would call it his soccer jersey and wear it all the time.

It indicated a life of contentment and joy, and, sometimes, unexpected gratitude.

“I was sitting by the fireplace once, just putting in firewood, and he walked up and told me, ‘I’m so happy,’ and gave me a hug,” Jase said.

Along with “Octonauts” cartoons, Popsicles, dinosaurs, bugs, lizards and sharks, Deklynd delighted in all things Christmas. That will make this holiday even more difficult.

He loved to take in holiday light displays, no matter how small, and the family had just put up trees and decorations throughout their home, including in the boys’ bedroom. His excitement over presents surpassed even the stereotypical child’s interest.

“He wanted whatever we had if we knew we were hiding something, so we had to keep all talk of presents on the D.L. really good,” Shilo recalled, or he’d be tearing through the house to find them.

When they took in a recent “spa day” — a favorite activity with Shilo — Dek opted against his favorite color blue toenails to get “Grinch Christmas” toes, similar to Rowyn’s tiny red and green fingernails.

“He really was just full of joy. Just grateful for life,” Shilo said. He was so polite, so thankful and so happy about everything, she added.

“When you think of a 4-year-old, you don’t think they comprehend those kinds of things. He was very vocal about how much he loved everybody. And how happy he was, even about the smallest things.”

The family is trying to keep that gratitude going, now
“God has placed a lot of blessings with us. I would never have expected such an outpouring of love, support and prayers,” Shilo said.
“He was a big ball of joy,” she said. “It’s not that there’s not enough to say, but he was so simple. And when you’re that young, you are.
“He was loved and he shared that. He wanted everyone else to know that they were loved.”

Survivors include Deklynd’s parents, Jase and Shilo Casseday, brothers Jayden Ortiz and Rowyn Casseday, grandparents Susan Carpio, Mark Casseday, and Robyn Paterson, and countless aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members. He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, notably “Nana and Papa” Carpio and “Nana” Beth, and a great-great grandmother, “Granny.”
“He’s sitting on someone’s lap right now,” Jase said.

Services will be noon to 3 p.m., Dec. 14, at the Northern Colorado Cowboy Church, 33131 US-85, Lucerne, CO 80646. In lieu of flowers, contributions are appreciated at funds set up for the family, at the online SpotFund and GoFundMe sites, or by mail at Mark’s Funeral & Cremation, 9293 Eastman Park Dr, Windsor, CO 80550.

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Deklynd Casseday

August 27, 2019 — November 25, 2023

Pierce

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