Bryan Adam Ekern

Bryan Ekern, age 46, of Eden Prairie, MN peacefully left this earth on April 12, 2023 at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN.
Bryan was born on January 11, 1977 to John and Kathleen Ekern in Detroit Lakes, MN. In typical Bryan fashion, his arrival delayed his grandparents winter trek to California. From Dad, he inherited his sense of humor and a bit of stubbornness, and from Mom his sweet and caring nature, especially for kids and animals. The youngest of three, he was often bossed around by his older siblings. However, as the baby of the family, we all knew he was in charge. Mom and granny especially had a soft spot for our "Babe", rarely telling him "no" (much to the chagrin of his siblings).
Growing up in Waseca, MN, Bryan and his older brother Chris were the best of friends. They spent many hours biking around town, playing outside until dark with neighborhood friends, golfing at Lakeside, and occasionally terrorizing their older sister Jenn. During his school years, he played hockey and participated on the golf team (as would be expected from a member of the Ekern family). He graduated from Waseca High School in 1995.
Summers were spent in Detroit Lakes, where tubing, water skiing, playing golf and fishing with cousins and friends were favorite activities. His kindness and adventurous spirit earned him a large circle of friends, whom he could easily persuade to participate in daily doses of mischief. Before kids, you would often find the Ekern siblings (and later in-laws Angie and Phil), cruising the lake on dad's pontoon into the wee hours of the night, where they no doubt solved all the world's problems.
After high school, Bryan attended college at St. Cloud State University and Moorhead State University, eventually earning a B.S. in Accounting. He relocated to the Twin Cities, where he passed the CPA exam and worked as an auditor, most recently for Eide Bailly, LLP.
Bryan and partner Alicia Decker were blessed with a daughter, Ava, in 2012. He was the best daddy. He never passed up the opportunity to play Barbies, have his nails painted, create goofy videos and photos, or play with their sweet puppy, "Sparkle". Bryan's smile and caring personality live on in Ava, and for that we are grateful.
Bryan will be fondly remembered and forever loved by Ava and Alicia; sister Jennifer (Phillip) Berndt and brother Christopher (Angela) Ekern of Northfield, MN; nephews Elias Ekern and Liam Berndt and niece Frances Ekern; special aunt Julie Raphael of Detroit Lakes, MN and cousin Mimi Raphael of Boulder, CO.
Also survived by aunts Gwen Lilya of Soudan, MN; Carol (Keith) Bergren of Detroit Lakes, MN; uncle John (Jane) Munn of Fort Myers, FL; Alicia's family; many cousins and countless friends and colleagues.
Bryan has been reunited with those that preceded him in death: parents John and Kathleen; grandparents Julian and Eileen Ekern and Mary, Gerald and Evelyn Munn; uncles Gary Munn and Steve Munn; aunt Nancy Erdmann.
A celebration of life is being planned for this summer, in Detroit Lakes, where we will celebrate our beloved Bryan/ Babe/ Ox at the lake, as he wished.