Drake Oversen Obituary

Oversen

Drake Starman

Oversen

May 29, 1987

January 8, 2022



Brother. Son. Friend. Adventurer. Pizza maestro. Epicure. Oenophile. Music lover. Rock climber. Skier. Backpacker. Snowshoer. Hiker. Biker. Dentist. U.S. Army veteran. Provocateur. Devil's advocate. Raconteur. People person. Wrangler of toddlers and pre-teens. Fashionista. Nature boy. Hard worker. Builder of beautiful backyards. Destroyer of concrete.

Starman was literally his middle name.

Those are a few of Drake Oversen's nouns.

He loved people and saw the good in everyone. Human relationships were his everything.

Although they lived 1,000 miles apart, he and his younger brother and sister-in-law, Spencer and Alaina Oversen got together frequently. They climbed mountains and slept in tents, created and consumed fabulous meals, tackled ambitious home improvement projects.

And he adored Hannah Nash. They had been a couple for almost four years when, after a week of COVID quarantine, they could stand to be indoors no longer and headed for the mountains they loved.

They were strong and experienced snowshoers, but their jaunt on January 8 happened at exactly the wrong place and precisely the wrong moment. An avalanche overcame Drake, Hannah and their pitbull Valerie, claiming all three of their lives. It happened in an instant on North Star Mountain, near Hoosier pass and close to Breckenridge, Colorado, where he was supposed to meet friends for skiing the following day.

The Summit County Search Group found the couple's snowshoe trail into the avalanche's path the afternoon of January 9. Drake was 34, Hannah was 25.

Google Drake's name and you will find dozens of news reports chronicling his death, but he should be remembered for his life, which he lived fully and well.

He loved to laugh – often at himself. He had so many friends he was trying – and failing – to stop adding more to the fold. He was happy to wear the unicorn onesie, try the purple gin, and take the leap from Black Rock into the Pacific.

Drake juiced the lemons handed out by the Pandemic lockdown and crafted "quarantizza," the legendary pizza that was well on its way to becoming Starman Pizza pop-up kitchen and catering by 2022.

COVID also led him to spend even more time outdoors, where he further honed his skills. He did not shy away from risk, but he knew his capabilities and took precautions. He understood and respected the wilderness and was quick to pull the plug on an adventure when the weather turned bad or conditions shifted.

Seldom did Drake sit still, yet he had a successful career as a dentist focusing his considerable energy to the confined space of each patient's mouth. After graduating from the Indiana University School of Dentistry, he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army and worked in dental clinics at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs for four years. After separating from the Army, he joined Mountain Vista Dental, where he regaled patients with his tales of outdoor adventures and earned their appreciation for his professional skills.

Drake also earned bachelor's degrees in biology and psychology at Indiana University. He was a social worker for two years after graduation.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Drake grew up in Goshen, Indiana. He is survived by his father, Jeff (Yunhi) Oversen, of Vancouver, Washington; his brother, Spencer (Alaina) Oversen, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Gail Oversen; his aunt, Linda LePoidevin; grandparents, Jack and Patricia LePoidevin; and grandmother, Audrey B. Ossler.

The Oversen and Nash families were joined by more than 100 of Drake and Hannah's friends on a frigid, snowy night in Colorado Springs on January 14 to celebrate two lives cut short much too soon.

A celebration of Drake's life is scheduled in Indianapolis on May 7, 2022.

Drake's family asks that those who want to honor him do so with a donation to:

Summit County Rescue Group, www.scrg.org, which assembled the team of more than 60 volunteers that located Hannah, Drake and Valerie.Adaptive Climbing Team at City Rock, the climbing gym that meant so much to Drake., https://climbcityrock.com/youth-programs/adaptive-climbing-team.The Team pairs kids with physical, emotional, social, and/or cognitive developmental challenges with volunteer rock climbing coaches to help the kids overcome challenges, promote skill development, and build self-confidence and life skills. To donate, send an email to [email protected].