Aaron Bradley Strootman

The funeral service for Aaron Bradley Strootman, 27, of Minneapolis, formerly of Marshall, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 7, 2018, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service including sharing of memories at 6:00 p.m. at Rehkamp Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall. Visitation will continue from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Brad & Joyce Strootman are deeply saddened to announce the death of their Beautiful Son Aaron Bradley Strootman on Sunday December 30th in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Aaron was born July 24th, 1991 in Marshall and baptized in the Redwood River behind the family home by Father Jon Pearson. Aaron lived a childhood only afforded to those who grow up in a small town. He ran untethered with his friends for many years, wearing a path on any shortcut to the Marshall Aquatic Center and eventually the Skate Park. Evenings were spent playing what they called night games, basically running, screaming, hiding, laughing, and then running and screaming, to this day on Summer evenings the kids in the neighborhood still play the same game, and it is music to our ears. As a High School student, Aaron kept adding boards to his world, from skateboards to snowboards to wakeboards. He also realized a dream of so many young men, he and his buddies formed a Rock Band, The Pants. Aaron was the drummer and that means they practiced in our home, and what started as hectic noise eventually became music. This too was a gift in our lives. Much to the delight of his father, Aaron was also becoming an avid and very competent Clay Target Shooter. Aaron graduated from Marshall High School in 2010. Upon graduation, Aaron attended Minnesota State University in Mankato, majoring in Marketing and Business Administration. He graduated in 2015, apparently they ran short of caps and gowns in 2014 and he was forced to attend a 5th year. After graduation he followed his dreams to the Twin Cities, seeking more music venues and career alternatives. He worked briefly in a marketing position, but when that job ended his Uncle Gary needed immediate help in his Law Office and overnight his career path changed for the better. Over the next four years he worked for several law firms and ironically was going to be offered a job he wanted very much, at a larger, well known law firm, on Monday morning December 31st. Aaron was a delightful son, he gave love to the people in his life freely, openly and endlessly. He was charming and gracious. We frequently hear from friends and neighbors about how Aaron always went out of his way to greet people, young and old with warmth and sincere interest. Aaron was funny, with a biting wit, tinged with a wry bit of cynicism. Warmed up, he could entertain a group forever with his social commentary, be it political, cultural, music, movies. His friends have said it just wasn’t a party until Aaron arrived. Aaron is survived by his parents, Brad & Joyce, his aunts: Paulette Anholm of Grand Marais, Wendy Holm (Don Byrd) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Lori (Allen) Moen of Florida, Alice Sachs of Burnsville. Julie (Todd) Davis of Willmar, and Uncle/Mentor/Friend Gary Strootman (Trisha Schmitz) of Minneapolis. Cousins: Nick (Rachelle) Davis of Marshall, Shelby Moen (Stan) Florida, Zane Hazen, of Minneapolis, Elliot Moen (Rachel) of Colorado, Chase Davis (Eden) of South Dakota, Joseph Byrd (Haylie) of Florida and Annabelle Sachs of Burnsville, and our dog Keeper. He is also survived by a girl he loved, Andrea Holmes of Mankato. He often teased Andrea that there was only room for four women in his life, his Mom, his Grandma, his dog Keeper, and her…not always in that order. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Howard and Rhoda Holm of Bloomington, Robert and Joyce Strootman of Spicer, and two yellow labs he loved, Katie and Keena. Gifts not otherwise designated will be used to establish a support fund for Lyon County – Heart to Heart called: Aaron’s Toys for Little Boys