A Message to Our Community from Mayor Deb De Haan Orange City, Iowa Dear Friends and Neighbors,

A Message to Our Community from Mayor Deb De Haan

Orange City, Iowa

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Our hearts are broken as we grieve the tragic loss of three of our beloved young people—Kolten, Ashton, and Bryleigh. Words cannot begin to capture the depth of sorrow we feel as a community. In moments like this, we are reminded of the fragility of life, the strength of love, and the hope we hold in Christ alone.

We weep alongside the families, friends, teachers, school administrators, and classmates who are walking through unimaginable pain. As Scripture assures us:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
—Psalm 34:18

May we lean on God’s promises—and on one another—as we mourn together. Let us cling to the reminder from Psalm 23:4:

“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.”

We also continue to lift up Luke, the young man who survived. He is being treated for third-degree burns on his hands and arms and faces a long road of care and recovery in St. Paul, Minnesota. Let us surround Luke and his family with unceasing prayer, encouragement, and support, asking God to grant him strength, endurance, and hope with every step forward.

In the midst of this heartbreak, we also hold Jayce, a courageous sixth grader, close in our prayers. In the dark of that early morning, Jayce bravely rode his four-wheeler to get help for his loved ones. May God grant him peace and comfort as he begins to process all that he has seen and felt.

We also pause to give our heartfelt thanks to the first responders—our firefighters, law enforcement officers, physicians, and health care teams—who rushed to the scene and cared for these families with courage, skill, and compassion. Your service reflects the very heart of Christ, and we are forever grateful.

Orange City, Alton, Granville, Maurice, and Hospers—we are more than just neighboring towns. We are one family. Let us continue to surround these grieving families with prayer, tangible support, and love that does not fade.

Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus, carrying one another through this valley of sorrow. Though the darkness feels heavy, we hold fast to the truth: Christ is our light, and in Him, death does not have the final word.

Please join me in lifting these families up in daily prayer. May God grant them peace, strength, and a deep sense of His presence. And may we, as one united community, walk forward together in faith, compassion, and hope.

With love and sorrow,
Deb De Haan
Mayor of Orange City, Iowa