A Kansas community mourns the death of a young man who lost his life to a rare infection of his brain.

20-year-old Vadim Downey of Cheney died of bacterial meningitis last week at a Wichita hospital. At Monday's funeral, friends and family remember him for his passion for life and how that rubbed off on them.

Vadim's friend Tiffany Lanham says, "He's going to live in all of our hearts and all of our memories forever."

20-year-old Vadim Downey is remembered for his way of making people laugh, and for his courage to learn a new way of life. The Russian native came to Cheney when he was in seventh grade.

Vadim's teacher Paula Voth says, "Cheney became his town, and we became his people, how honored we are to have known him."

In college at Wichita State, Vadim wanted to go to grad school to study drug research to help others.

His loss is felt deep in the heart of this little town, but some also remember with a smile and a chuckle. A young man, taken too soon leaving behind many who will miss him all too much.

The pastor says despite this tragedy, Vadim would have been thankful for the love his friends and family gave him.