Castiel Clark
March 29, 2014-June 4, 2026
“Cas was a joy the minute he came into the classroom until the time he left. He was kind to every student in the room and never had a negative word to say about them. His story and testimony were a light to every student in our classroom.”
“Cas always came to school with a smile on his face, joy in his heart, and was ready to learn! Cas’s infectious smile brought happiness to everyone around him!”
What was intended to be a weekend stay with the Clarks turned into a new home for Cas when his parents, Mark and Anna, and their older son, Nickolai, fell in love with him and adopted him into their family in late summer, 2020. He began kindergarten at Cross Lanes Christian and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior!
First grade was going very well. Then, the awfulness of cancer invaded Cas’s young body. The final months of his first grade year were trying—plagued by surgeries, treatments, and hospitalization in another state. Complications from the cancer left Cas with paralysis below his chest. Although he had full use of one arm and hand, he lost most of his ability to use the other arm and hand.
But, Cas did not allow his limited mobility to stop him. He was an extraordinary young man with a drive to participate to the best of his ability. Cas loved music! He sang a solo in an elementary choir performance and played in the hand bell choir as long as he was physically able.
Cas’s classmates adored him. In second grade when he was unable to attend school in person, his teacher, Mrs. Brown, positioned her iPad so that Cas could be present virtually and the iPad went everywhere the class went! His classmates interacted with him as if he were in class in person. When Cas was able to return to school, the entire elementary school had a special welcome back parade in his honor.
Cas loved attending “SCHOOL school,” as he called it (school in person), and attended third grade as much as possible. He underwent a successful hand surgery to get a functional range of motion. During Spirit Week, he came dressed in a dress shirt with a mechanical pencil and a tie, complete with a badge that read “Mr. Clark, CLCS Math Teacher”.
In fourth grade, although Cas would have to miss school for appointments and treatments, he was faithful to keep up with his schoolwork. His classmates were always eager to spend time with him during lunch and to play his favorite game, “Among Us,” during recess.
Cas attended fifth grade as often as he was able. He was always inventive and full of creative ideas, constantly making new creations or doodling cool drawings. Cas wrote his nickname, “Casaroni,” on every paper.
Cas had already attended what would be his final day at school when his twelfth birthday came around. But, the whole school celebrated his birthday by wearing red clothing (his favorite color) to school! From home, Cas enjoyed the many photos and videos of his schoolmates wearing red in his honor!
Cas has been a joy to love during his short time with us and we pray that if you are reading this, you will, as Cas did, accept Christ as your personal Savior and one day see him again, running and laughing and enjoying Heaven—no wheelchair in sight!
Cas’s brother, Nicolai, is heading a project to build a playground in Cas’s honor: The Cas Clark Memorial Park, to be constructed at Cas’s home church, Cross Lanes Bible Church. You may contribute to this project through the link below.
