BRYAN, Michael Andrew 1965 - 2018
BRYAN, BAKER
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:22:49
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, August 10, 2018
Page 4MICHAEL ANDREW BRYAN
Ft. Lauderdale, FLMichael Andrew BRYAN, age 53 of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, passed away on Thursday August 2, 2018. A "Happy Hour" celebration in Mike's honor will be hosted from 5:00-7:30pm, Saturday, August 25th, 2018 at The Depot Brewery in Fairfield, IA. If you knew Mike (aka "Beet Head" or "Captain Mike") please come out to share stories and memories and help us celebrate Mike's life.
Mike was born March 19, 1965 in Cedar Rapids, IA, the son of Gordon and Connie BRYAN. After a few years in Cedar Rapds/Marion area, the family moved to Fairfield, IA where his parents opened the Montgomery Catalog Store in 1971 and where Mike and his older brother and younger sister were raised and grew up.
Mike attended Pence Elementary, Fairfield Junior High School, and Fairfield High School where he played and enjoyed sports, and had many great child-hood friends. After a mid-Senior year road trip to Florida with a friend, Mike fell in love with SE Florida and moved to Ft. Lauderdale for his last semester and went on to graduate at Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, FL.
After graduating from college at Florida Atlantic University, Mike started a career working on yachts, eventually becoming an accomplished licensed Captain. His yacht work included Lady Columbo in the late 1980s, as well as Big Eagle (140-ft Benetti), Steelin (86-ft Baia speed boat) and Therapy. He also oversaw construction, and ran, Let It Roll (92-foot Sunseeker). He was most recently working on Trilogy (90-ft Cheoy Lee) and had bought and refit a boat (for himself), originally the Stellar of Gibraltar, which he renamed Hosana.
Additionally he specialized in yacht refinishes and surface drives. As a Captain, Mike knew many people in the industry and had many adventures around the world. Some people in the industry knew him as "Iowa Mike" and others called him "Beet" because he had a fair complexion and he would get red in the face after a day working in the sun.
In his off time, he loved riding his motorcycle and he used his skills to volunteer at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale, doing projects that the church needed to have done like sanding and varnishing the church doors.
Mike had many close friends and will always be remembered for his smile, humor, care for others, and his adventuresome, live large spirit. One friend recently said - "One of the best guys you may never have known, and if you did, you were blessed with some of the best times of your life".
His Family will always remember him as an outgoing, caring and loving Son, Brother, and Uncle, animal lover, always on the move, determined hard worker, and one who lived life to the fullest. Mike was preceded in death by his Father, Gordon BRYAN.
Left to share Mike's memories are: His Mother, Connie BRYAN of Jefferson City, MO; His older Brother Dave (Karen) BRYAN of Overland Park, KS; His younger Sister Sara (Mike BAKER) BRYAN of Jefferson City, MO; numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Nieces and Nephews; and his vast numbers of friends.
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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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