Memory Page
You can drive all night
Looking for answers in the pouring rain
You wanna find peace of mind
Looking for the answer
If we could find a reason, a reason to change
Looking for the answer
If you could find a reason, a reason to stay
Standing in the pouring rain
— Cage The Elephant, “Cigarette Daydreams”
Catch a cannonball now to take me down the line
My bag is sinkin’ low and I do believe it’s time
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she’s the only one
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone
— The Band, “The Weight”
Obituary
Austin Earle McGeheran, age 23 of Minneapolis. Born July 19, 1998; passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on July 23, 2021. Preceded in death by grandfathers, Loren Retzlaff, Thomas Geheren and Jay Bremer; uncle, Greg Retzlaff. Survived by mother, Mary McGeheran; father, Richard (Jennifer) McGeheran; sister, Helen McGeheran; grandmothers, Connie Retzlaff, Barb Geheren and Marilyn Bremer; god-parents, Tom and Dar; many aunts, uncles, cousins, an amazing group of friends and his beloved dog, Barry. Austin lit up all of our lives with his infectious personality, unforgettable smile and blue eyes, and expanded our family with his unending love. A visitation will be held at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 5801 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis from 11:00 am -12:00 pm on Saturday, July 31st with a Memorial Service following at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the family. In Austin’s memory, his name will be engraved on The Tree of Remembrance at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.
A recording of the Memorial service held for Austin on Wednesday 7/31/2021 in Minneapolis, MN.
Music from service:
What You Won’t Do For Love – Performed and recorded by Austin’s friend Patrick McCarthy AKA Freaky Pat. Please follow and support.
Best of You (with Elle King) Performed by Andy Grammer and Elle King. Austin and I enjoyed Elle King’s In Isolation.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
By Max Ehrmann © 1927
The slide show video was lovingly made by Austin’s friends Patrick, Phillip, and Olivia.
A tribute video made by Olivia and was shared on social media, many of the clips are from the weekend before his death. Olivia and Austin were born a day apart at the same hospital, it was years later when they meet, but joked we have been friends our whole life.
During Austin’s funeral and celebration of life, we had index cards out and invited those in attendance to share a memory, song, joke. We read through all these great notes and wanted to share them. We added a soundtrack of some of Austin’s top-played music from his iPhone. Playlist below.
Images from a shared google drive. They have been populated by friends and family.
During his senior year of college. Covid-19 pandemic was in full effect, most of his roommates had gone home. Austin stayed in his apartment and did remote school and work. I found this clip he made sharing a day in his life at that time.
Another item from his senior year of college. Austin asked if he could interview for a blog project. This is that interview, audio only.
Austin McGeheran Scholar at DeLaSalle High School
Austin’s workplace JSML Media started a scholarship in his name at DeLaSalle High School.
Here is a video of the first recipient in 2022.
Tribute on KFAN
A close friend’s daughter sent in a tribute for Austin on the one-year anniversary. Here is that tribute being read by Common.
January 23rd, 2023 – 18 months since Austin died.
Today is eighteen months. One and a half years. It still hurts. Sometimes I ask myself if this is real. Then time and events flash through my mind remembering how real it is.
I went to ChatGTP and asked it to look at this page and write a poem to commemorate the 18-month anniversary of Austin’s death.
Forever in our hearts
18 months have passed since you were taken
Leaving behind memories that will never be shaken
Austin Earle McGeheran, your light still shines
In the hearts of those who knew you, forever entwined
Though your time on earth was brief
Your impact was far-reaching and deep
With a heart full of love and a smile that could light up a room
You touched the lives of all you knew
Though we cannot see you or hear your voice
Your memory will forever be our choice
To hold close and treasure in our hearts
As we navigate life’s ever-changing parts
Rest in peace, dear Austin Earle
You will be forever missed, but never forgotten. Your legacy will forever live on through the
lives you’ve touched, who will keep your memory alive and inspire others with the
kindness and love you shared.
Some of Austin’s Social Media Pages
A Spotify Playlist of music he loved – shared on the memorial cards at the funeral.
A Spotify Playlist of Austin’s top 25 songs played:
Thank you Rich, I entered with a terrible sadness for the death of your son but I leave now with the joy that was the life of Austin McGeheran.
This is so wonderful to have all of these precious moments and more-than-memories of our dear Austin in one place. Thank you Rich ~ for all of your thoughtfulness, and somehow helping the rest of us through this horrible loss, as you are grieving deeply as well.
Thank you also to all of Austin’s friends; for what you’ve shared here, for how you have been close to Austin, for the wonderful music you’ve performed and shared, and how you have opened yourselves up to us all during this extremely difficult time.
We will miss Austin forever, and for us to all have this page to come back to whenever we need to is so precious, healing and inspiring.
It brings me so much joy to be able to come here and be close to Austin, his life and his loves in this way.
Thank you.
With Love Always,
The Bremer-Lorenz Family