James Allen Hewitt

James Allen Hewitt

AKA (Spike Vannieuwenhoven)

September 9, 1988 – April 6, 2025

James A. Hewitt at the age of 36 passed away on Sunday April 6th 2025, around 6:05 pm. Way too young, your kids are not supposed to leave this world before their parents, that is just the way it is. James had been fighting with his Diabetes (DKA) (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) for 2 years. Then on April 6th 2025 DKA took his life from his family and the world.

James was born on Friday September 9, 1988 at 6:22 am. 8lbs. 4oz. and 21 inches long, in DeLand Fl. From the beginning James always was a smiler, a giggler, loved to laugh, just a ton of love from a little guy. James loved being with all of our family. Also, James loved animals, dogs, cats, horses, spiders, bugs, snakes, I don’t think there is an animal he didn’t love.

I was always told you better watch out he is such a cutie, he will have so many girlfriends, when he gets older. Girls watch out. As a very young guy he loved to dress up, for church, gatherings, birthdays, you name it if he got a chance he did. Not just a nice shirt and jeans but we are talking the whole 9 yards, dress shirt, vest, tie, and suite jacket. Boy is he a handsome guy, I am so proud to say that he is my son.

James would help his nana and papa at a very young age get ready for their job (Evangelista Enterprise and Car Show Cafe) every week at the market. He would help fill water jugs, measure coffee, shop, count items, then he started working with cash handling part, taking orders, then working on the grill he had so much fun while making money and spending time with his nana and papa. James also loved helping me with house work. Believe it or not he loved vacuuming, his dad (Joe) would always give him a hard time about that because he didn’t want to learn about fixing vehicles but instead help me clean. I always thought that was great.

James loved to draw. There are so many pictures that I have that James drew. A lot of them had something to do with underwater, explosions, submarines, claws. Just very interesting, open minded to explore.

In Nov. 1999 at the age of 11 James volunteered to be in The Diabetes Prevention Trial – Type 1 DPT-1 Trial for Diabetes. James was screened when we found out his sister was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes on his 9th birthday. (September 9, 1997) He loved to be the guinea pig because that meant he got to leave school early, eat some great food, and pretty much be a fun kid and do what he wanted to as long as they were able to test his blood and give him some super big syringes full of pure sugar water. He loved it. He was in the trial for 4 years. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on April 29, 2019, and that is what took his life on April 6th 2025 almost 6 years.

In Orange City Elementary James won a lot of awards in Physical Education. Running, standing long jump, sprint, sit – ups, pull – ups, ¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 – mile, hurdles, is was very athletic his whole life.

James loved to run: he started running with his papa for fun then realized they had a running program at the school Orange City Elementary on Saturdays. It was called the Beast then as you got older it was called the Canon Run. James and his pop practiced at least 2 to 3 times a week to get ready for these runs. From there he started his 1st 5K run with his papa it was a Father’s Day run so since papa was the man in his life papa asked if he could run with his grandson and they said sure. So, they were a 1st Division Winner on 6/21/98. Now they not only have father & son but a father & grandson run. I think that is so cool. Not everyone has both parents, so I am glad that my dad has been there for James since he was a little guy.

When growing up James along with his sister were very fortunate to spend lots of time with family. Nana and Papa had a small farm that they loved to be on and help to care for the animals. Rabbits, chickens, horses, cats and dogs. Nana and Papa also took them a lot to Disney and Sea World they had a blast. His older Uncle and Aunt would take them for the whole summer to stay with them. They got to go on their boat, go tubing, and went on the jet skis. When visiting their other Uncle and Aunt they had such a blast literally as their uncle was big time into paint ball, with their cousins they would hang out at the creek, ride the go cart, and play in the barn with the animals. His Aunt and Uncle (TEAM Hendrickson) would take them to church even though they might have already just gone with me. They also took them to the beach, the lake, and 4-wheeling just where ever to spend the time with family. Even though they had a great time don’t get me wrong they did fight too, oh yeah, they were brother and sister lol.

James loved hanging out with his dad (Joe). Joe took James with him when he went over the road driving semi. James got to see a lot of the US during different breaks he had from school. James got to go to different military bases with his dad. Sleep in a rig, go to truck stops, eat trucker food, talk on the CB, and just talk smack to each other. Good quality time between father and son. James got to rider 3 – wheelers, 4 – wheelers, go carts, motorcycles with Joe

James at the age of 14 started his 1st job working at a restaurant (Firehouse Restaurant) where he was a bus boy. He worked there for 3 years and was finishing high school Berlin High School. From there he started working as a bus boy again at a different restaurant (BR Diner) but then the owner had asked James if he would be willing to try to wait on tables as he was good with customers as he was cleaning the tables, so he decided to start waitering as he definitely had the perfect personality for it. He was the 1st waiter at that restaurant. He did so well. The ladies loved him, why, because he was so darn handsome, he was getting awesome tips too.

As James was getting through his last few years at Berlin High School, he started figuring out what he wanted to do with his life.

1. To get into the military: army, navy, air force or marine he would be in 1 of them, out of the 4 of them, James really wanted to be an underwater demolition man.
2. Go to a college he had it all picked out. (WyoTech) a private, for-profit technical college in Laramie Wyoming
3. Make enough money to buy what ever he wanted with cash no loans

James was pretty excited when he received a letter from WyoTech that they will be waiting for

him to graduate from high school as they have all the information started for him.

James was a little disappointed when he got the letter from the Marines stating that they would not be able to use him in the underwater demolition unless he was willing to get the Titanium plates removed from his head from a car accident that his sister and he was in.

So, the making the money was left on his goal list. He started pipelining with the union as soon as he graduated from High School. That meant he left home young and stayed away for sometimes a few months at a time. From pipelining, to construction, to welding, to demolition. He bought anything he wanted and paid cash. That just made him so proud to do. As his friends were getting loans for play things or vehicles, he was paying cash with a receipt paid in full. I think that was what he enjoyed the most cash only. No bills. James was with different unions for 18 years and loved it. For instance, these are what he paid cash for: his cars (2), a truck, a pocket rocket, a crouch rocket, TV’s (4), an engagement ring, mopeds (2), he bought all the material and equipment that he needed to make his very own vapes, that was a passion for him and a relaxation for him. He bought models all kinds but his last ones that parts were still coming in are for a Nissan R35 Scale Model GT-R 1/8 Metal Diecast. Also, he was building an Eleanor, a customized 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

On January 29, 2008 James was informed that his unborn child (Angel) had died and that just broke his heart, like it would for anyone who loses their child. For 17 years her death haunted him.

On April 19th 2013 James was blessed with a beautiful baby girl Evalynn Rae Vannieuwenhoven. Evalynn was the apple in his eyes. Talking with his friends that was all he talked about. Was how big she is getting, what she has been doing, and what accomplishments she is doing now. He would do anything for his little princess, to make sure she was taken care of the rest of her life. James never missed not 1 of her Christmas concerts they had in Elementary school. We always made it a date night when we picked her up for the concert. I loved that time we spent every year together. James got to teach Evalynn how to one-wheel they enjoyed that so much together. The only thing he didn’t get to teach her was to snowboard that was the next item he wanted to be special between the two of them.

James enjoyed drawing, skateboarding, skating, one – wheeling, cars, trucks, motorcycle, 4 – wheeling, downhill skiing, snowboarding, just to name a few.

James met so many different people and touched their lives in so many ways you couldn’t even imagine, male, female, young, or old, James made a difference to everyone he met. It didn’t matter if James knew you or not, he could start up a conversation with anyone about anything. That is why he was liked by so many. James was not afraid to try something new, a new chapter in his life. James could conquer the world. James was invisible. James was not afraid if he failed which didn’t happen to often but if he did, he would just start again. Nothing stopped him. James was always willing to do anything for everyone and anyone since he was able to walk and talk. James was a go getter and wanting to learn everything that his mind could absorb. James loved taking things apart and then put them back together. He liked to see how things worked. James had an imitation that would just go wild.

I have been very blessed to know what kind of son I had. I have so many of James’s friends reaching out to me with there sincere thought and prayers for my loss of such a great friend they had. His friends are finding me on social media calling me ma, they say they know me but not really because of how much James talked about his mom. They also have been keeping tabs on me to catch up making sure that I am ok and to talk if I just needed to. What great friends James had.

James is survived by his daughter Evalynn, Mom, Dad, Sister, Nana, Papa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and tons of friends in the unions.

A celebration of life for James will be held on Saturday, September 13th from 12-3 pm at the St. Teresa Hall on the east side of the church at St. Peters Catholic Church 359 W. New York Ave. Deland FL. He didn’t want a funeral, but everyone knew he loved a gathering with family and friends. If you can RSVP that you are coming that way we can have proper numbers for the catering of food. You can RSVP to 715-850-2002.

James will definitely be missed by all the lives he touched, his bright smile, heartfelt generosity, and the endless joy he brought to those around him.