Caleb was the son of a good buddy of mine from High School.

AUSTIN

Caleb Koke, 1992-2009

Shoreline pastors' son dies in car accident

By Joshunda Sanders
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Caleb Koke had earned another patch for his Summit Christian Academy letterman jacket, Shoreline Christian Center Church receptionist Estela Swanner said, but he did not live to see it sewn to his sleeve.

Koke, the 17-year-old son of the interdenominational church's co-pastors, Robert and Laura Koke, was driving home from a bowling event early Tuesday when he fell asleep at the wheel and his vehicle hit a tree, Executive Pastor D.R. Dickey said.

Department of Public Safety officials said Koke was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Denali east on RM 2243 about 3 a.m. when the wreck happened just east of Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Williamson County. Authorities said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dickey said the family could not comment on the death.

"They're just heartbroken," he said.

Dozens gathered inside the chapel of the 5,000-member church Tuesday afternoon to mourn Koke's death — the second family tragedy in a week. Robert Koke's father died last week in a boating accident in Florida, members of the church said.

By early evening Tuesday, hundreds of people from around the country had posted their condolences to the family on the church's Web site.

"The Lord promises to be close to the heartbroken," said Curtis Rutherford, 41, a church member who went to the chapel in the afternoon to pay his respects. Because of their faith, he said, the Koke family "will walk through their pain differently than a family of the world might."

The church chapel was open all day and into the evening so church members could write notes to the family and mourn. A picture of Caleb Koke appeared on a screen in the chapel's vestibule, and church members wept in each others' arms.

Koke was the middle child of three, said Tammy Frank, an assistant with the children's ministry.

Church staff recalled him as a tall, quiet presence at the church who was loved especially by children who attended the summer camps held there.

Koke was a sophomore at Summit Christian Academy, where he played both guard positions on the basketball team, the Rev. Mike Collins said.

"He could have done anything. He was smart, with charm and charisma with a disarming smile," Collins said.

Koke also adored animals, particularly snakes. Collins said the boy once moved a snake out of the road after a game of disc golf, "kind of like the Crocodile Hunter would do."

"That was a huge part of him, just looking out for others," Collins said.

At Shoreline's regular service tonight, counselors will be on hand to help the congregation, church staff said.

Services are pending.

jsanders@statesman.com; 445-3630