Aaron Young Nienstedt passed away Sunday morning at his home, surrounded by his mother and sister. He was 30.
He was born in Oshkosh Wisconsin on February 17th 1987, the second child and only son of Randall and Christine Nienstedt. Despite a diagnosis at the age of two with the terminal disease Battens, Aaron lived his life to the very fullest. He was an active boy scout, and also a talented artist. His work won awards when he was only 10 years old, and he was honored in Madison by then Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and his wife.
He graduated high school in 2005 with the help of aides and his family. He continued to engage in the community with ongoing educational programs and social groups, regardless of his physical limitations. They were limitations only in others’ eyes, never his own.
He loved music, especially live music, and would attend as many concerts and festivals as time permitted with his parents and sister. Oshkosh Waterfest, local Jazz festivals, Country USA, and the yearly South Park Art Festival were amongst his most anticipated events every year. He also loved fishing with his father and best friend Nate, family vacations, woodworking, and spending time in the back yard with family and friends, enjoying nature. He was a passionate animal lover, and donated often to local humane societies. His greatest joy was a weekend on Bass Lake in Northern Wisconsin, at family reunions in Wisconsin Dells, or spending a sunny day in the backyard with his golden retrievers, Maggie and Sadie.
Aaron was preceded in death by his loving father, Randall Nienstedt, who passed in September of 2017. He is survived by his mother Christine, sister Jess, and a large and loving extended family who will miss him dearly, but who agree that his departure is at its heart a relief for him, after a life well-lived.
Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside, 100 Lake Pointe Drive, Oshkosh. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 2:30 p.m. Saturday until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Humane Society.
