Lance Cpl. Adam John VanAlstine, 21, formerly of Superior, died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, the result of a roadside bomb.

He was born Nov. 2, 1984, in Duluth, son of Mary Garrity and John VanAlstine. Ever since an early age it was Adam's goal to become a Marine. One of his teachers said that he talked about becoming a Marine when he was in the third grade. He was a member of the Bad River Band of Chippewa Indians, and it was in part because of a great uncle who was an Ojibwa chief and another relative that was a Marine that inspired Adam to become one, too.

Adam was a 2003 graduate of Superior Senior High School. After graduation he moved to the Twin Cities to live with his sister and entered the Marines in 2004. Some of Adam's interests included boxing, hunting, fishing and being outdoors.

Preceding him in death were his parents, John VanAlstine and Mary Garrity; paternal grandparents, Andrew and Leola VanAlstine and maternal grandparents, Paul and Lorraine Garrity.

Survivors include sisters, Julie Goodell, Superior, Jennifer VanAlstine, Superior and Dawn (Darin) Duffy Meyers, Cottage Grove, Minn.; brother, Michael Garrity, Superior; four nieces, a nephew and a godchild; step-father, Don Marek, South Range; mentor, Daniel Lewis, Duluth; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and many special friends including Nicole and Danielle Heytens and all of the "East End Boys."

Burial:
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Minneapolis
Hennepin County
Minnesota, USA
Plot: Section T Site 3661