Payton Stark

Payton Curtis Stark was born on a sunny Thursday morning after all the corn was planted. He was a joy and sometimes trial to his parents Curt and Heidi (Neisius) Stark all of his 16 years. He joined the Angels in Heaven July 14, 2015. He will be sorely missed. Payton was a very good baby who liked to sleep and play with his mom's hair while he drank his bottle. He loved to be rocked to sleep. At age 18 months, Payton started to show signs that he was unique. He could spin for long periods of time and not fall down and started screaming instead of forming words. At age two and a half, he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Payton attended many schools for services to help him find himself: Voyager Elementary in Alexandria; WCA South in Kensington; Browerville Elementary; Eagle Valley Elementary; Sauk Rapids Elementary and, finally WCA Middle and High School. He taught each educator and staff member as much or more than they taught them. Payton moved from home at age five to his first group home, Autumn House in Alexandria. There he met his Jenny who would come to be his 2nd mom and snuggle mate. Jennifer Bryniarski Hess started a group home for Payton when he was six. He lived in Clarissa for seven years and gained two more moms Kelly Klimek and Sara Ahrendt. Payton moved to Sauk Rapids and back home for brief periods before moving to Discovery House in Elbow Lake for the last almost five years. Payton was surrounded by all of his moms and his dad when he passed from this world to the next, something Curt and Heidi will be eternally grateful for. Payton touched and changed the lives of so many. It truly took a village to raise and care for Payton. All you needed was to see his smile or hear his laugh to bring a smile to your face. He was special in the eyes of all who knew him. Heaven gained an angel, and he will have all the chocolate chip cookies he could ever want. Payton is preceded in death by his brother and his grandmother, Charleen Halvorson Stark. Payton is survived by his mom and dad, Heidi (Neisius) and Curt Stark; sister, Paige Stark; his other moms, Jennifer Hess and family, Kelly Klimek and family, and Sara Ahrendt and family; grandpa, LeRoy Stark; uncle Chris (Milissa Nelson) and family; aunt Connie (Tony) Russeth and family; grandma and grandpa Anita and Denny Neisius; and uncle Mark Neisius. Visitation: 4PM to 7PM, Friday, July 17, 2015 at Messiah Lutheran Church, resuming one hour prior to the service at the church Funeral: 10AM, Saturday, July 18, 2015 at Messiah Lutheran Church, Hoffman Clergy: Reverend Nathan Thompson Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Hoffman is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorial Folder for Payton

Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Hoffman 103 7th Street North Hoffman, MN US 56339

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, July 17, 2015
Service
Saturday, July 18, 2015