Adventurous, loving, funny, unforgettable son
“Evan had the biggest heart. He was the person everyone came to for advice, a shoulder to cry on, or just a hug and a good conversation. He had a great sense of humor and a gift for lighting up a room simply by being in it,” his mother, Cherie, shared.
Evan loved his family and cherished time with friends, but what he loved most was being outdoors. Fishing, long walks, and being near water were where he felt most at home. Some of his favorite family memories were annual trips to the Wilderness in the Wisconsin Dells, which the family made every year since he was two. His most treasured vacation, though, was Eagle River — staying in a cabin, fishing from morning until night, then sitting by the bonfire, and just relaxing. He loved fishing and swimming and was passionate about all things water sports and the outdoors.
As a boy, Evan was active in Cub and Boy Scouts, where he discovered a talent for marksmanship. He became so skilled that his scout leaders submitted his targets to the National Rifle Association, and he was awarded the NRA Marksmanship Award — a complete surprise to his family and a moment they were incredibly proud of.
Evan was a hard worker and a quick learner. In his later years, he took up carpentry, something his family believed he could have built into a career. He had a younger sister, Lauren, whom he was always protective of, and he dreamed of one day getting married, having children, and owning a home. He loved kids, and they loved him.
What made Evan truly unique was the way he made people feel. There was something about him — something that anyone who met him recognized immediately, even before he spoke a word. You just knew he was special. A young man who knew Evan when he was 18 later reached out to his mother, Cherie, to share that Evan had made a significant impact on his sobriety. Another friend shared that Evan made her feel truly beautiful — not in terms of looks, but as a person. He made her feel seen, heard, and that she mattered.
Evan made an impact on all who knew him. He was the friend who made everything better and appreciated the small things. If he loved you, you knew it. He was always positive and there for those in need, day or night. Helping others made him happy. He talked about helping teens heading down the wrong path. He never wanted anyone to go through what he did. He had so much love in his heart.
Evan lived with the disease of addiction for six years. When he was in active addiction, he carried a lot of regrets — because that was not who he was. His mom misses everything about him, particularly his smile, his laugh, their daily conversations and “him being with me everywhere I was.”
Cherie described the pain of watching a child go through addiction, and the loss that followed, as something beyond words. “It truly broke my heart,” she said. “It’s something you never heal from. We will forever miss him, love him, be proud of the person he was, and will always have the pain of losing him every day. But I have learned that the pain is simply love I cannot share with him — so I hold it in my heart. Forever.”
Evan’s mother, Cherie Swiercz, provided the information for this narrative.
March 22, 2000–April 12, 2021-Age 21
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
