Andrew Wells Barron

ANDREW WELLS BARRON November 21, 1981 - June 5, 2017 On June 5, 2017, in Broomfield, Colorado, Andrew took his own life, finally succumbing to the Bipolar Disorder he fought most of his adult life. He was born at Toledo Hospital to John and Barbara Barron on November 21, 1981. Andrew was raised in Perrysburg, where he attended public school until he started St. John’s Jesuit High school, graduating in 2000. He was on the rowing team at St. John’s and was a proud Kairos leader. He went on to study at Macalester in St. Paul, MN and finished up his last year of college at the University of Toledo. After graduating, he moved to Denver, an area he first fell in love with during skiing trips taken there as a child. As he approached Denver when moving there, he called his mother from the car telling her he was being greeted by a beautiful rainbow over the city. Andrew possessed a remarkable intelligence and deep love of nature and the arts. He had his Uncle Mark’s talent of being able to wrap up a person, controversy or world event in a single, concise phrase. He brought his incisive mind and creative spirit to his work life, innovating where innovation is neither common nor expected. He valued talent and hard work and enjoyed working with people who shared his passion in Denver’s robust startup community. He was always thinking. His love of nature started early as he vacationed in northern Michigan either at his grandparent’s home on the Old Mission Peninsula or at his grandmother’s fishing Lodge on the North Branch of the Au Sable River. He learned to fly fish at age 10 and became the best fisherman in the family. As a high schooler, he hiked Wyoming’s Wind River Range and climbed Washington’s Mt. Baker. On week-ends, as an adult, he hiked the 14,000 ft peaks near Denver, ran the foothills, snow-boarded, camped and fished. He was fearless and would often send videos of a bear or snake he ran across on the hiking trail. He loved the poetry of Walt Whitman, the organic sculptures of Andy Goldsworthy, the later paintings of Picasso, and the lyrics of Bob Dylan. He wrote beautifully and kept extensive journals. In addition to his parents, Andrew is survived by his beloved brother, William Chase Barron, his aunts Mary W. Barron, Elaine (Len) Hawley, and Jennifer (Rich) Steiner; uncles, Richard M. Barron (Ann Courtney) and Mark E. Barron (Eleonore) and his cousins Jason Hawley (Susan); J. Colin Hawley (Sarah); Catherine Steiner Gordon (Mark), Rebecca Anne Bartlett (Peter), Nate Steiner (Gabrielle), Alexander Barron (Jenna), Kristin V. Barron (Neil Goldman), Thomas F. Barron and Annie C. Barron; and by his grandfather, Lyle M. Johnson. He was preceded in death by grandmothers, Abbie M. Barron and Virginia G. Johnson and grandfather Francis E. Barron. Andrew’s smile and strength in the face of adversity are cherished memories for all who knew and loved him. The funeral will take place at Zoar Lutheran Church, 315 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, OH on Monday, June 12, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Beginning at 1:00 pm, the family will be available to receive those attending. Private Burial will immediately follow the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, people who want to make a memorial donation might consider the Sierra Club or St. John’s Jesuit High School. Arrangements are being handled by Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg, OH (418-874-3133).