Ian Michael Baird

1997 - 2021

Ian Michael Baird

August 2, 1997 - January 9, 2021

Challenge- A call to take part in a contest or competition. An objection as to the truth of something, often with an implicit DEMAND for the truth.

When presented with one, Ian did not know a challenge he couldn't take on. Ian loved soccer, and would challenge himself to be the best leader he could be, on and off the field.

With the help of his friend and co-captain Aerin West, Ian helped lead his soccer team to 3 consecutive state championships. Ian was the type of player who never shied away from the opportunity to shine under pressure. His teammates still remember the time that Ian set the tone for one of those championship games, by performing a crucial slide tackle that ensured his teams win. This kind of intensity was something that trickled down to Ian's teammates. He truly was in every sense of the word, a leader.

This anecdotal story only provides a glimpse into the mindset of the fierce competitor that was Ian. As he grew older, he would begin seeking out more challenges. The more difficult the challenge, the more Ian would be attracted to it. He was in love with facing life "head on" and demolishing any threat that was in his way.

After some time, Ian started to face challenges that he was unable to conquer. These challenges were more mental than physical, and can often be the toughest. Ian was intelligent, philosophical, and intrigued by the unknown. In the spirit of facing his challenges head on, Ian would begin to experiment with things like meditation, spirituality, and psychedelic substances.

Ultimately, this love of facing challenges head on would prove to be a double edge sword. Ian's search for answers slowly and unsuspectingly turned into a drug addiction. If anyone reading this recognizes that their child is dealing with the same mental challenges that Ian was, please know that you are not alone and there is no shame in seeking help. The path to sobriety starts with admitting you are not in control, and submitting yourself fully to the idea of a higher power and plan for us all. Whether you want to call it God, or not, there is always help available. Sometimes you just have to ask the right people.

Our family is so thankful to the TFD and TPD officers who spent 55 minutes, attempting to bring Ian back to life. The epi box left at the scene holds so much importance to me, as a Mother, and a Nurse. This will be our connection to our baby boy. We are also happy to say that Ian's brain was accepted into the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) study program at Boston University. We would also like to thank Midwest Recovery Center for their efforts to help Ian reach sobriety. We really can't express the amount of gratitude we have for their heroic efforts.

Tom, Laura, Nate, Kyleigh, and Tasha the beloved dog, are all at peace knowing that Ian is with them every day, watching over us all. Ian's presence makes us all stronger and we cannot wait to see him again.

Thos. I. Wisniewski Funeral Home (419)531-4424.

www.wisniewskifuneral.net