Brendan James Ricklefs

Brendan James Ricklefs was born in Algona, Iowa on August 7, 1980. Brendan led a life of adventure from the time he was born. At the age of 3, he rode his bike about 1.5 miles to go see family friends, the Renshaw's, although he seems to remember it as he rode from the Renshaw's home.
He is an amazing woodworker who started using tools very early and at the age of 4, was in the Algona newspaper for trying to saw the rental car in half. He moved to Portsmouth, RI at the age of 5 and then to Bel Air, Maryland, at the age of 10. Brendan loved playing soccer and lacrosse. He went to University of Iowa where he received his PhD in pharmacy. Brendan also served as an aircraft mechanic in the Iowa Air National Guard and deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While living in Iowa, he and his friends would travel to Colorado to go snowboarding. He enjoyed flying and earned his private pilot's license. Upon finishing school, he moved to Colorado to work as a pharmacist. Brendan loved his VW vanagon camper van. He loved hiking with his dogs, climbing, camping, kite surfing, and water skiing - really anything that was active and involved adventure and risk taking. Brendan loved to travel and see new places. He and his friends went to Costa Rica quite a few times. He was able to visit his sister and her family in Iwakuni and Okinawa Japan, and Hawaii, along with a few other places within the continental US.
Brendan loved kids and they loved him. He volunteered at Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center with the Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program teaching kids how to ski and snowboard. Brendan was the biggest kid of all and always made things fun - on the slopes, in the water, at the beach, or even at the dinner table. He will always be "Uncle B" to his nieces and nephews - Maddy, Moira, Ryan, Alex, Brendan, and Ian. They all thought the world of him and always had fun when he was around.
Brendan was funny and sensitive, a light that walked into the room. He was always game for anything and everything. He was a giver, always helping others. He loved, cared, and felt very deeply. His smile and eyes said it all. Brendan could fix and build almost anything. He helped design and build a camper van conversion, renovated houses and bathrooms, and finished basements. A true passion of his was finding old or unique pieces of wood and creating furniture and décor. Many friends and family houses across the US have some beautiful BR Woodworks originals.
As he began this new adventure, Brendan was greeted by his cousin, Jenny Ricklefs, his Uncle Randy Ricklefs, his Aunt Cheryl Ricklefs, his grandparents on both sides, close friends and a few 4-legged companions. Those who are left behind are mad and sad that he left too soon: his partner in life, Keri Kopchik and their 4-legged kids, Bisley and Kimber, his parents, Moira and Rod Ricklefs, his siblings, Megan and Joe Tadalan, Kate and Rob Flannery, his nieces and nephews, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and very dear friends. He will be remembered fondly, by those closest to him, as "Trucker".
Any donations in his name can be made to: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/brendan-ricklefsmemorial-fund