Adam L. Ilvess

Adam Ilvess, 40, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at his home Thursday, January 23, 2025. A private family service was held and we invite Adam’s friends to join us in a celebration of life from 12 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Big Creek State Park Beach Shelter #1. This will be a alcohol free event. His family encourages everyone to bring their fishing pole and cast a line for Adam.

Adam was born and grew up in the Beaverdale Neighborhood. He attended school in the Des Moines-Hoover School District. Adam earned an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts from the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC, and was particularly proud of his career as a chef. He served the community for many years in a number of Residential Care Facilities in the Des Moines metro area, and he found it rewarding to bring pleasure through food to the residents. After the trauma of Covid in the medical community, he returned to work as a cook at Hy-Vee where he worked while attending high school and college.

Adam’s love of fishing was obvious and he was good at it! He began fishing as a toddler and at age 5 he could out-fish many grown men. Adam shared this passion with many of his friends. He enjoyed sports and tried almost everything including golf, disc golf, bowling, downhill skiing and snowboarding, skateboarding, basketball, baseball, and football. Adam often played football with his niece and nephews and rough-housing was always involved, which they loved! There were also many fun-filled trips to Adventureland. He loved to explore and traveled to many locations in the United States and Canada. He was never an eager student but he was curious about everything! One high school instructor commented that Adam learned through osmosis. Every day he was drawn to current events, historical and science documentaries, mixed with a blend of music and comedy.

Adam will be missed greatly by those who survive him, his parents, Uldis “Whitey” and Elaine Ilvess; brother, Aaron (Lily); niece, Lexi; three nephews, Quinton, Hunter and Oliver all of Des Moines; a sister, Erika Ilvess; five aunts; two uncles; and numerous cousins.

This is such a shock to our family and it is difficult to compose an obituary to capture the essence of his life. A Go Fund Me has been set up to place a bench at Lake Halice and you can donate by clicking on the link on the donations section of his page below the obituary and just above the services section.