Brandon R. Rodriguez

Brandon R. Rodriguez

Howell, MI

YouTube Live Stream: https://youtu.be/_x1oEVkFa2Q

Brandon R Rodriguez, 41 of Howell Michigan, lived life on his own terms, often taking the road less travelled and that afforded him a beautiful life full of experiences that he reveled in. He passed away on Friday, May 7, 2021 at U of M Ann Arbor from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Born on July 18,1979 in Douglas, WY to Kim Koeshall and Richard Rodriguez, he made his mark on the hearts of anyone who met him.  He grew up in Little Chute Wisconsin with his mom, stepdad, Roger Koeshall, and sisters Linette Aden and Christina Rodriguez. Brandon was a curious and loving little boy, always finding stray cats to feed and taking good care of the family dogs.  From early on he was obsessed with baseball, collecting all the cards and dreaming of being like his heroes, Ken Griffey Jr. and A-Rod.  He played football in the street with neighborhood kids and his tag along little sister who always wanted to do what he did. He practiced basketball and wanted to be like Mike.
In school, he played sports and was someone everyone was drawn to. While going through a difficult time in his life during high school, a young teacher, Mark Janssen, really took him under his wing and mentored him. Mark became one of his best friends in the years following high school. It was this guidance and friendship that really kept him moving in the right direction as he began his life as an adult.

He worked at Menard's in high school and Wells Fargo in Racine, WI after high school. He found his favorite role professionally with a career in finance with CNH Industrial Capital, where he worked for the last decade of his life. He absolutely loved the challenges of the job, the opportunity to succeed and exceed expectations. He especially loved the tight knit group of colleagues, dealers & farmers he spoke with daily and often visited when on the road that were more like family to him.

On November 26th 2007 in an intimate ceremony on the beach in Mexico, Brandon married Megan Kish of Brighton, MI.  On August 8th 2009, the ABSOLUTE love of Brandon's life, McKenna Marie Rodriguez was born, making him the proudest dad. He loved introducing her to the Milwaukee Brewers when they lived in Kenosha, WI and the Detroit Tigers in Michigan.  His life as a father was focused on showing McKenna the world around her. They traveled together, exploring the Great Lakes and many others lakes, hiked whatever trails they could find via paddle boarding hiking and his drone. He loved photographing their adventures and sharing them on Facebook and Instagram. Some of their favorite trips were to Pictured Rocks, Grand Haven, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and their latest to Washington DC over Spring break this year. They had many more trips planned, but the big dream trip to Iceland was in 2022.  They told corny jokes to make each other crack up, played, sang, and danced to great music, loved attending Lions and Tigers games, and especially loved the nights at home, snuggled up watching movies or sports on TV with their good boy, dog, Mickey.  Brandon was so proud of his little lady and the early & excellent reader she was as well as any sports she was in. McKenna made him so proud with her love of volleyball & determination to give it her all. He beamed when she sang in school plays or talent shows. She was (and still is) his heart and soul.
It was in July of 2015 that Brandon was able to fulfill a lifelong dream when he met his biological dad, Bill Herrera of Rapid City, SD, as well as 2 other siblings, Ben Herrera & Stacy Malsom.  His connection, so innate and so meaningful continued to grow into a relationship with great meaning between them all as well as with another brother Billy Herrera.

Brandon was preceded in death by his dad, Richard Rodriguez, his stepdad, Roger Koeshall, as well as his maternal grandfather and grandmother Kenneth Aden and Mary Jo Harding, his Papa Manuel Rodriguez, his best friend Kevin Foate in 2010, and most recently his big sister Linette Aden 2019.
Brandon is survived by his mother Kimberly Koeshall of Clintonville WI, his dad, Bill Herrera of Rapid City SD; his daughter McKenna Rodriguez and her mother Megan Evans, both of Howell, MI; his sister & brother-in-law and friend, Christina (Jerry) Ort & their kids, Tali and Harding Ort of Clintonville WI; brother Daymond (Renee) Hoffman and their kids, Cora and Wesley of Haines, AK, brother Billy (Kimberly) Herrera of Las Vegas, NE and their kids; sister Stacy Malsom (Bernard Eaton III) of Tucson, AZ and a brother Ben (Molly) Herrera and their kids Isabella & Anthony of Rapid City, SD.  He is survived by many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday May 14, 2021 at Borek Jennings Funeral Home, 312 S. Michigan Avenue, Howell, MI with visitation open to all, from 2-4p.m. Due to Covid, the funeral itself, is private for family and a few close friends only.However, it will be presented virtually via Facebook and YouTube. A Celebration of Life that reflects Brandon best will be planned for this summer with details later.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a memorial fund for his daughter, McKenna, through Chase Bank. Checks can be made out to McKenna Rodriguez (memo: memorial fund) and sent to 9401 Placid Way, Howell, MI 48843.
Consider planting a tree or taking a hike or paddle in Brandon's memory. See the beauty & life to live and explore all around you like Brandon would have.

YouTube Live Stream: https://youtu.be/_x1oEVkFa2Q

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