Aaron P. Berry

MADISON-Aaron Patrick Berry, age 50, of Madison, passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at Agrace HospiceCare with his wife, Julie, at his side after spending the evening surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Jan. 13, 1969, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, the only son of Cris and Lisa McClow Berry. Aaron graduated from City High, a small magnet school in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., and later received his BS in Meteorology and Political Science from UW-Madison. He married Julie Anna Spears in a beautiful lakeside ceremony on Sept. 6, 2014, at Olbrich Park. Becoming a husband to Julie and father to Kieran relatively late in life was a twist in his plot that brought him (mostly) pure joy. After a handful of years as a meteorologist, Aaron made his career at UW-Madison Transportation Services in numerous capacities for almost 25 years, most recently as Financial Services Supervisor. Aaron loved fine craft beer, kubb, poker, music, festivals, movies, camping, canoeing, most any wilderness adventures, biking, Badgers hockey, photography and storms. He was a tireless community volunteer and rather generous with his time, which he spent bringing people together. In fact, Aaron was somewhat of a festival & event volunteer junkie with such major roles as Madison’s Kubb Annual Tournament Founder & Director (7 yrs.) and Wisconsin Film Fest Volunteer Coordinator (5 yrs.) after a decade of theater captaining, and numerous other roles such as Eastside Kubb League Coordinating Team, La Fete de Marquette Ferris Wheel Assembly Team, Great Taste of the Midwest Keg Jockey Team, Ride the Drive, WORT and slinging beers at every eastside festival. He was proud to earn Team Fiasco’s award for RAGBRAI Gold after his inaugural “virgem” year on the ride across Iowa. Aaron is survived by his wife, Julie Anna Spears; son, Kieran Quinn Berry; his parents; in-laws, Ernie and Rachalle Spears; two sisters-in-law, Natalie (Thomas Pace) Spears and Noel (Brian) Zuckerbraun; and a niece and nephews, Tristan and Jody Pace and Zoe and Ryan Zuckerbraun. He was preceded in death by his Berry and McClow grandparents; and his Aunt Jill McClow Borcherding. A celebration of life will be held at OLIN PARK, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., Madison, from 4:30 p.m until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. An open house will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by a lakeside memorial gathering at 5 p.m. A potluck dinner and story sharing will be held in the Olin Park Shelter at 6 p.m. followed by celebration of life with kubb, music and the company of friends, family and community. Parking is somewhat limited. Madisonians please carpool or bike if possible. If driving, able-bodied folks, please park in the main parking lot down the hill. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Dr. Dustin Deming's Research Lab at UWHC Carbone Cancer Center by purchasing tickets to the Funk Out Cancer event at the Orpheum on Nov. 2, 2019 or by making a contribution to this event, or the Goodman Community Center or Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420