Chris VanSpeybroeck

Meningitis suspected in death

Student's funeral set for Friday in Illinois

By: Cindy Petersen, Ryan Pleggenkuhle and Tyler Loring

Posted: 11/12/09

A 21-year-old Kirkwood Community College student, Chris VanSpeybroeck, of Colona, Ill., died Monday at St. Luke's Hospital "due to complication of bacterial meningitis," according to Michael Van Hoe, of the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd. in East Moline, Ill.

According to the online obituary VanSpeybroeck was attending Kirkwood pursuing his Associate of Science degree in fire science.

Several Kirkwood students reported that VanSpeybroeck lived at College Park Apartments.

The Kirkwood campus nurse, Lori Jeppson, said the college was notified Tuesday morning about the death and the possibility of bacterial meningitis.

On Wednesday morning, in a phone interview, Jeppson said it was too early to confirm the cause of death.

When the Linn County medical examiner was contacted Wednesday morning about the death, the call was transferred to the Linn County Sheriff's Office and a spokesperson said the cause of death could not be confirmed at that time.

Linn County Public Health could not be reached. The office was closed Wednesday in observance of Veterans Day.

Since bacterial meningitis is contagious and can be spread from person to person from coughing, kissing and sneezing, fliers have been posted in Kirkwood apartments recommending that students contact Campus Health for information on the vaccination.

Funeral services for VanSpeybroeck will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, East Moline.

Burial will be in National Cemetery, Rock Island, Ill.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., where a rosary will be said at 1 p.m.

Survivors include his parents, Dave and Mary, and two brothers, Justin and Eric.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Alleman Booster Club.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.van

hoe.com.