Aaron William Granquist went to be with the Lord on November 5, 2019, at the age of 32. He had a compassionate heart and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (833 S. Marschall Rd.) in Shakopee, MN. Visitation is from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon with a service beginning at 12:00 Noon. Pastor Troy Fields will preside, and Aaron’s father (Aaron), brothers (Adam, Andrew, Alexander, and Anthony), and grandfather (Charles Granquist) will act as pallbearers.
On December 19, 1986, Aaron William Granquist was born to Aaron and Brenda Granquist. He came into the world in a big way weighing in at 11lbs 2oz, and his parents fell in love with him immediately. Soon Aaron became a big brother. He was the oldest of five boys and set a wonderful example for Adam, Andrew, Alexander, and Anthony. Aaron was always a serious boy, but he had an adventurous spirit as well.
As a boy, Aaron loved all kinds of critters. He would make the rounds (with his brothers and friends in tow) to all the neighborhood window wells hunting for frogs, toads, salamanders, and anything else he could find. One of the best gifts he ever received was a Critter Cage, and he made excellent use of it! Aaron loved all things related to dinosaurs, including watching one of his favorite movies, The Land Before Time . In his teens, Aaron enjoyed drawing, building his own gaming computer, taking and editing photos, and spending time learning graphic design; he also loved sports such as aggressive skating, biking, and Taekwondo.
After graduating high school, Aaron attended Dakota County Technical College. He earned his Associate’s degree in Photography and began pursuing this passion as a career. Aaron’s photography skills were exceptional, and his photos were so distinctive because he saw the world through a different lens. He found beauty in uncommon things and truly captured the essence of his subject. Aaron, along with his friend (Ben), founded their own photography business, Unique Photographers, LLC. In this business, he took and produced wedding, graduation, and engagement photos. In recent years he worked as a freelance photographer; he was highly respected and was often sought out by his peers to provide his expertise and unique perspective to assist with their projects. He also took photos for his personal collection.
While working in the Best Buy Camera Department, Aaron met a beautiful and loving woman named Erinn Swinton. He told his parents, “She gets me.” Aaron and Eri fell in love and were married. They eventually went their separate ways, but they remained close friends and always cared deeply for each other.
Over the years Aaron had many unusual pets. He had mice, rats, hamsters, scorpions, snails, fish, ferrets, a bearded dragon, and a dog. He took excellent care of each animal and made special connections with all of them. Whether roller blading as a kid with his favorite dog, Klondike, or teaching his rats to perform tricks, Aaron put his whole heart into everything he did, including caring for his pets.
In his free time, Aaron enjoyed pursuing his hobbies. He liked all things “extreme.” He loved the outdoors and survival camping. On one of his most memorable trips, he and his friend (Caleb) would hike the remote Adirondacks with only what they could carry on their backs, and they would hunt, fish, and forage for their meals. Aaron also enjoyed motorcycling and mountain biking. In his pursuit of an adrenaline rush, he once broke his collar bone, but not even a broken bone could slow him down. Even in the hospital, Aaron began planning his next extreme ride. Aaron was truly an adventure-seeker.
Although he enjoyed pursuing other passions, he was truly in his element when he was helping others. Aaron had a very compassionate heart and would often go out of his way to give aid, from helping someone who was homeless to sacrificing his own comfort by partaking in a mission trip to Haiti. During this trip he found fulfillment in assisting others, especially those less fortunate than him. This trip had a huge impact on his life, and he cared deeply for all the people he met along the way.
As a young boy, Aaron loved God but as an adult had many questions. However, throughout his whole life, family and friends were most important to him. He loved and respected his extended family and had a very close relationship with his grandparents.
Aaron struggled with depression, bi-polar, and chronic insomnia. While he battled these things, he was still able to empathize with the needs of others and tried to take action to help them. He had a dry sense of humor, a love for adventure, and an “all-in” attitude. Aaron will be remembered for his infectious smile, contagious laugh, and compassionate heart.
His memory will live on in the hearts of his parents, Aaron and Brenda Granquist; brothers, Adam (Brittani), Andrew (Kelly), Alexander, and Anthony; grandparents, Charles and Janet Granquist, and Elsa Persson; former wife, Erinn Swinton; many uncles, aunts, cousins, and extended family. Aaron was preceded in death by his grandpa, Raymond Leland.
