Andre Paul Berkland

Andre Paul Berkland, 26 years, passed away on Sunday March 3, 2024 in Virginia MN. He was born in Nizhny Norgood Russia on June 26, 1997. Andre and his sister, Katya, were adopted in 2004 by Eldon and Wendy Berkland. He is survived by his parents Wendy and Eldon of Eden Prairie, MN (formerly from Chanhassen MN); sister Katherine (Katya) Berkland, Lake Havasu City AZ; sister Etta Berkland, Eagan MN; partner Rachel Ryberg, Virginia, MN, many loving relatives across the US and his beloved Labrador Sky.

Andre grew up in the Chanhassen Community surrounded by his family, great kids and their supportive parents. He was baptized when he was 7 years old at Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Chanhassen and confirmed in the church program.

He loved being active and enjoyed playing traveling soccer and wrestling in elementary school through high school. He had the enormous support of patient coaches and their respective sports club families. He enjoyed fishing, paintballing, snowboarding, dirt biking, video games, photography, cooking, writing songs and poems, family vacations and reunions. He loved his family, relatives, godparents and their kids, friends and neighbors in the community and gave them all many cherished memories.

His love of animals was endearing, especially his affection for his Labrador Sky. While living in Bozeman MT, he and his sister Katya drove to Cody Wyoming to pick a puppy from a litter. He chose Sky and took him to dog obedience training. Andre loved throwing the tennis ball to Sky. Sky lives with Eldon and Wendy now and never tires from retrieving the tennis ball.

Andre graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a degree in Business Administration during the Covid outbreak. He struggled emotionally with the lack of peer interaction. Andre shined with the gift of a giving heart and always thought of others more than himself. He would often help other students complete zoom assignments, offering friends emotional support when they were struggling with crisis. Andre discovered kick boxing which helped alleviate stress.

After college Andre struggled coping with life's challenges but achieved many great milestones in his recovery programs. Although his life was cut short, he lived life with passion, sincerity, integrity and most important, through his faith.



Andre, we will always be so proud of you. You will be missed by so many but always know you will forever be a precious gift to our family. We love you deeply and will cherish our 19 years with you. Sore with the eagles now. You are free and we will meet again.

Celebration of Life: May 18, 2024 St. Andrew Lutheran Church 13600 Technology Dr. Eden Prairie MN 55344 Visitation: 1:00-2:00pm Service 2:00-3:00pm

Reception: 3:00-4:00 In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: SAVE Suicide Awareness Voices of Education 7900 Xerxes AVE. So. Suite 810 Bloomington MN 55431