Remembering Nolan Gerwels

GRANGER, Ind. - Last Friday 14-year-old, Nolan Gerwels died doing what he loves, playing basketball. His visitation and mass were Friday afternoon.

Nolan’s mother, Margaret Gerwels, and family opened his life celebration up to ABC57. She said she wants her boy to be remembered.

Gym shoes and jerseys. Not attire you would typically see at mass, but this is what Nolan’s friends and loved ones were wearing to honor his life.

Nolan died last week as the backboard, rim, and support bracket fell on him as he was playing basketball at his house.

Nolan’s passion for basketball was embodied at his services.

“Nolan would spend hours practicing drills, working on his shot, and running game scenarios over in his head. He had hoped to one day play college ball,” Nolan’s mother said.

He wasn’t only involved in sports. Nolan was an honor student, and as his mom says, an all-around nice kid.

Nolan went to Discovery Middle School and was going to be a freshman in high school in the fall.

His absence will be felt by many.

Memorial contributions for Nolan are asked to be made to Shoes that Fit, an organization that gives athletic shoes to kids in need for school.