Ian E. Vazquez

Ian E. Vazquez

January 16, 1996 - December 25, 2021

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Obituary

MIDDLETON - Ian Vazquez, age 25, of Middleton, Wis., passed away at home in the early morning hours of Dec. 25, 2021. Ian, the beloved and adored son of Kelly Otto and the best friend and younger brother of Otto William Vazquez, is remembered as a gentle soul who lit up the room with his presence, quick wit, astute observations, and life-giving smile. With 26 years of magical memories of music, adventure, tenderness, and straight-up fun, Ian left us knowing his love for us, and letting us know he felt loved. Kind-hearted and caring, Ian was the individual who stopped to help folks repair a flat tire, assist the couple with a broken down and sinking Jet Ski, and one evening on Highway M, grabbed his toolbox and drove to repair the turbo for two men who had just purchased his used car.

A winner of two Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) awards for Best Electronic Album, Pacemaker (2017), and Ghost Party (2018), Ian was a prolific, self-taught, self-produced musical composer and sound engineer, releasing his first album, Razgriz, in 2015, at the age of 19. Ian purchased his first car at the age of 15 after saving his money from a year of employment as the Sonic Drive-in ice cream drink mix-master. He purchased, repaired, and traded up one car at a time. The album cover of Pacemaker features an image of his bright blue Mitsubishi Starion, a representation of thousands of hours of dedication, creativity, learning, and tenacity. That was Ian. He spent time replacing engines, suspensions, and refurbishing and modifying unique cars for both the road and the drifting track.

By the age of six he had hiked Arches in Moab, Harney’s Peak in South Dakota, and back-country packed at Rock Island in Wisconsin and the paths in the Rockies up to Thunder Lake in Colorado. He earned his high school diploma at Madison College, pursued pre-engineering for a year at Madison College (on the Dean’s list throughout) before shifting to his childhood passion. In the summer of 2021, Ian reached a career goal and was hired by Kelly-Moss Road and Race in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, where he refurbished Porsche road and race cars learning from the expert, salt-of-the-earth, family-like team. Most astounding is Ian’s humility about his accomplishments and his deep commitment to reach his life goals while bringing great joy to those who love, cherish, and admire him. Earthside, he is dearly missed beyond words. In God’s hands, he is soaring alongside the angels.

Ian is survived by his mom, Kelly; brother, Otto; step-father, Kyle Henderson; Anne Graceffa; grandparents, Bill and Jan Otto; aunts, Karen, Kim, Janet, Anette and Kate; uncles, Mike, Pat, John and Mark; cousins, Bridgett, Will, Sarah, Mike, Neal, Jack, Katie, Emily, Jimmy, Thomas, Jake, Caroline and Elizabeth; step-siblings, Ted and Grace; the California and Chicago Ottos; and dearest friends, Susan Gruber, Dylan, Manny, Nate, Mason, Patrick, Bycell, Melissa, Rosy, Jack, Corina and Cody.

Services for Ian were held at Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Care on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. He was laid to rest on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at Natural Path Sanctuary.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761


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V
Vickie
Other •
Most women say there is no greater pain than to bear a child ......I say there is no greater pain than to bury one
KJ
Katherine Johnson-Becklin
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Kelly, Otto, and family, Alex just shared that your dear Ian passed away. I am so sorry. Please accept our sincere condolences and know you are in our prayers now. He was certainly a gifted young man—a light that shone brightly. With great fondness, Katherine Johnson-Becklin and Alex Becklin
SL
Skyler L.
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My heart is warm remembering seeing Ian open up and put his own vocal talent on his music. He truly was a wonderful guy, all of us will miss him immensely.
S
Stevie
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Native American Prayer I give you this, one thought to keep. I am with you still, I do not sleep. Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am 1000 winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight unripened green, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die.
IR
Ito-Junji Roman
Other •
Ian was a brilliant music producer with so much to say about life alone. He was candidly vulnerable and passionate about the things he cared about at the same time. He liked to compliment people and he liked empathize with others. I never met him in real life. I live around a thousand kilometers away (around 620 miles) yet I was always excited when he messaged me on Instagram. I always hoped the best for him. He was an internet friend I was looking forward to meeting one day as he seemed really deep and caring and passionate about music. We both agreed one time that on many days, even fighting to be ourselves is the hardest thing one can do when waking up feels purposeless yet I hope he knew that as I said agreed to that sentiment, Ian is someone I admired. He was himself. He loved cars, he loved music and when I released my short film, he got excited that the Toyota MR2 was featured. When I heard the news, the only thing I could think of is I wish he woke me up. I live at the other end of the world and our timezones probably mean that he's asleep when I'm awake and I'm awake when he's asleep. I wish he woke me up and told him everything he felt to someone he couldn't reach physically. Perhaps to him it would feel like whispering secrets to the wind because though I am not in America, I wanted to be there for him from the other side of the world. His passion inspires me and I think of him in my walks alone. I hope I get to honor his memory by emulating the passion I admired in him because some days, it's hard to even remember that I'm passionate for things. And then there's Ian's smile and enthusiasm for things... It reminds me that humans love even when they feel loveless.

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