Ian Nicolaas Honcoop came into the world on June 28, 2005. On September 19, 2022 the Lord called Ian home….

Ian Honcoop was the definition of a blessing, a miracle walking…a true friend. He was always a joy to be around with a grin that could light up the darkest of rooms and a laugh that could make anyone melt. His attitude was consistently upbeat and bubbly no matter what he may have had going on in his own world. He worked alongside family and friends at the Brass Lantern Restaurant and Lounge, a local restaurant owned and operated by the Honcoop Family.

An active member of the Boy Scouts of America since 1st grade, Ian made a number of friends through the program and was able to volunteer for camps, worked at Camp Buck Toms in Rockwood, TN for a few summers, in his words “Teaching 11-year-olds to wield hatchets, knives and training the upcoming generation of fire starters.” Ian was the Scout Speaker at the 2021 Friends of Scouting Dinner for Cumberland County Scouting. He shared some memories of his greatest accomplishments in Scouting, such as hiking with friends and family, traveling to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, accompanied by his parents and brother, working at camp and realizing what true friendship looked like.

Ian had won a battle with a neurological issue and partial paralysis some years earlier, spending nearly a year in Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, TN. During that time, he found himself consistently surrounded by not only family, but friends…friends from his Scouting groups, friends from the youth groups at Homestead United Methodist and Redemption Church and friends that came from school. Ian had just started his senior year of high school at Stone Memorial High School, he enjoyed bowling, watching movies, playing board games, card games, video games…all of the things you would expect a 17 year old boy to enjoy…including spending time with the love of his life, Lillian Hajny. Ian and Lillian have been an item for almost 4 years and the two were undoubtedly made for one another and loved one another.

Ian is preceded in death by an infant brother (Ethan Honcoop), paternal grandparents William Honcoop and Sue Binns and maternal grandfather Kenneth Sherrill and cousin Logan Sherrill (Fred and Debra).

He is survived by his Mother – Jill (Sherrill) Honcoop, Father – Steven Honcoop, Brother – Luke Honcoop, maternal Grandmother – Linda Sherrill, Maternal Uncles – Fred (Debra) Sherrill and Larry (Lea Ann) Sherrill, Paternal Aunt – Julie (Jason) Rowe, Girlfriend – Lillian Hajny, his family at the Brass Lantern, several cousins and other family members and countless friends both young and old. Please lift this family, these friends, SMHS and this community up in prayer today and each day after as we mourn together.

There is a lot to be said for a 17 year old young man who has touched and impacted so many lives in such a short time…so much in fact, that those of us who remain should remember all of the opportunities we have had and taken for granted, chances not taken for fear of rejection, things left unsaid…and live each of the rest of our days to the fullest. The first verse of a poem by Henry Scott Holland reads:

“Death is nothing at all. It does not Count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened.”

We will see Ian again, knowing he’s waiting on the other side with those who have gone before him, probably with good friend and mentor Tom (Pa) Bristow who is undoubtedly showing him the ropes until we are all together again.

The family will receive friends at Redemption Church in Crossville on Friday – September 23, 2022 beginning at 3 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday – September 24, 2022 at 10 AM at Redemption Church with burial to follow at Dogwood Baptist Church Cemetery.

Redemption Church of Crossville 75 Commercial Drive – Crossville – TN – 38555

Dogwood Baptist Church 32 Old Gordon Rd – Grandview – TN – 37337