Andrew "Drew" Novencido

Drew was a true Renaissance man whose intelligence, curiosity, and enthusiasm for life touched the many worlds he explored.

Drew grew up in Iowa and Missouri, with a brief stint in Anchorage, Alaska, and graduated from Kirksville High School. He had an extraordinary mind and an endless appetite for learning. His interests ranged from the wonders of the natural world to the car repair of his beloved 2007 Corvette. There seemed to be no limit to the things he wanted to understand, discover, or master. His remarkable intelligence was evident throughout his school years, where he earned straight A’s and completed four years of high school in just three, graduating a year early.

Always eager for a challenge, Drew taught himself a large number of things: how to solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than a minute; how to play the bass guitar, and then the electric guitar; how to fold advanced origami; and many other things. Whether he was exploring a new interest, challenging himself to learn something different, or enjoying time doing the things he loved, he brought his own distinctive spirit to the experience.

Drew’s talents extended far beyond the classroom. A passionate musician, he played five different musical instruments during his lifetime and found joy in music and the challenge of learning new skills. He was also an excellent athlete, with interests that included running and water sports. His natural abilities, intelligence, and character made him a leader among his peers.

Drew embraced a wide range of interests, from video games and music to traveling and spending time at the lake house. Most of David’s favorite memories of Drew revolve around video games, when he was playing with Drew and Sam. “The earliest memory is beating Mario on the Wii, getting all the star coins, then 100%ing the game by getting all the star coins on world 9.

I don't think any video game experience will ever top this. The most memorable experience was playing Terraria on the Xbox 360. Just having the Xbox 360 was a miracle because I think we all pitched in to buy it, with our own controllers.

It was our first (of dozens) of playthroughs, so it was special. We were just learning the game, and back then, it was way harder: no wiki, no internet to google things, nothing, you just had to play to figure everything out, and in a game like that, it's not easy. Eventually we made it to the "final boss" which in this version of the game was the Wall of Flesh. Beating this boss that we prepared weeks for was one of the greatest accomplishments of my entire life, and the entire experience was completed with my two brothers, Sam and Drew.”

After Drew got his license, he purchased a 2007 Corvette, which he loved. Some of Sam’s favorite memories are driving in the Corvette with him (there may or may not have been some car races that mom didn’t know about!). Another favorite of Sam’s memories is tubing at the lakehouse. Papa devised a way to pull two tubes behind the boat at the same time, and Sam and Drew would ride side by side and try their hardest to not get thrown off; Drew had a reputation for being “stuck like glue” to the tube.

Alongside his intelligence and many talents, Drew had a mischievous side that made him unmistakably himself. He was curious, clever, and full of personality. He also had a deep love for his brothers, David and Sam, and for his pets: spending time with Luna (aka “crazy dog”); and the cats: Donut and Cupcake.

Drew’s accomplishments extended into his working life as well. While working at Chick-fil-A, he was promoted to manager, a meaningful achievement that reflected his abilities and the leadership he demonstrated among his peers.

Drew is survived by his mother, K’La Johnson; his father, David Novencido; his siblings, David Novencido and Samuel Novencido; and his grandparents Tom and Deborah Sooter, and Russell and Donna Steburg.

Drew was a young man of remarkable depth and possibility. He was intelligent yet playful, accomplished yet endlessly curious, and talented in ways that reached across so many different interests. He leaves behind memories of a life marked by discovery, music, adventure, athletic achievement, and a spirit that could never be confined to just one description.

He will be remembered for the many things he could do, the many things he wanted to learn, his mischievous nature, and the love he held for his brothers and animals. Above all, Drew will be remembered for being uniquely, wonderfully Drew.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Drew’s life on Friday, October 30, 2026. Visitation will be from 3:00–5:00 PM, with a funeral service from 5:00–5:30 PM at Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home.

All are welcome to come together to remember, honor, and celebrate the life of our beloved Drew.

We would be grateful to share this time with everyone who loved and cared for him.