Benjamin Tyler Brower

Benjamin Tyler Brower, age 42, beloved son, brother, uncle, grandson, and cousin, and friend, departed this world on June 13, 2020, in Glendale, Az.  Ben is now forever sleeping in peace, no longer tired. He was a generous man with a big heart and warm smile, a charismatic character who always lit up the room with his goofy antics and love for humor.  Life was more fun with Ben around and he will be greatly missed.

Ben was embraced into heaven by his father Stephen J. Brower, grandparents Joesph Brower, Victory and Mary Stickel, Walter and Mary Finnegan, and uncles Paul Stickel, Terry Lindsey, and Mark Kohl.  We are comforted in knowing Ben is reunited with his father, whom he dearly missed from a young age and who was always in his thoughts.

Ben is survived by his parents Victoria (Paul) Finnegan, Columbus and Kelleys Island; sisters Sara (Willis) Sansom, Columbus, and Kathleen (Kirk) Osborne, Sydney Australia; grandmother Jean Brower, Englewood FL; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We fill the hole left in our heart and honor his memory by telling stories about our beautiful Ben so he will never be forgotten or far from us.

Ben was born in Indianapolis, IN, during a blizzard on February 4, 1978.  The sunshine streaming through the window warmed him as he rocked in his mother’s arms in the power outage that followed and this sunshine became a symbol of their love for each other.  He was a little boy who melted the hearts of all that he met.  He was intelligent as learning came easy to him.  He graduated from Groveport Madison HS and also attended Columbus State CC and Ohio University.  Ben had a passion for and practiced mixed martial arts through adulthood. This love started with wrestling in Groveport youth leagues and continued through high school.  He passed this passion on to his niece Shaelyn and nephew Willis.  During his school days he developed lifelong friends which he kept in touch with and often visited and even took a trip to Australia with them.  Ben was a loyal and dedicated friend, always there when a listening ear was needed. 

Ben’s family spent summers on Kelleys Island where he spent his time swimming, riding bikes, boating, hiking in the quarries, and making friends including a girlfriend or two.   As a child he chased his sisters with worms and often practiced his wrestling moves on them.  Ben was a great big brother, always protecting and looking out for his sisters. 

Through his schooling he became a firefighter, paramedic, and nurse. In the ten years after moving from Columbus, Ben worked as a travel nurse, having adventures in Washington, Nevada, and California, before settling in Phoenix AZ., where he lived the last six years.  Ben was a healer and saved countless lives.   He would go the extra effort to make sure people were cared for with dignity and compassion.  Hearts warm remembering the story of him looking after a terminally ill patient who wanted to see the sunset one last time.  Ben spent days planning and organizing so his patient and all the machines could go up to the hospital’s roof to see the sunset once more.  He went above and beyond for that patient and many others. 

Ben wasn’t afraid to try new things.  For several years he had a go at standup comedy and he loved music, singing, and karaoke.  He once drove from Phoenix to LA to try out for The Voice.  When living in California, he learned how to surf and loved snowboarding, camping, and the outdoors.  He was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan, attending games whenever he could.  He fiercely loved his dog’s Tressel and Urban who always traveled with him.

Ben will be greatly missed.  We will no longer feel the embrace of his big hugs, but he will forever be in our hearts and memories.   

A service of remembrance and celebration of Ben’s life will be held Columbus and Kelleys Island at a later date.  The time of service will be announced by Ransom Funeral & Cremation Service, Castalia.  Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.ransomfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Benjamin Tyler Brower, please visit our floral store.