The tranquility of St. Anthony Park was torn asunder May 6 when Michael Scott Brasel died of gunshot wounds as he interrupted car thieves in front of his home.
The death of Brasel, 44, was widely felt throughout the community. He leaves behind a wife and two children along with countless people who knew him as a friend, youth hockey coach, residential carpenter of historic buildings and freelance artist of many genres.
In a statement, the St. Anthony Park Community Council expressed its condolences to the Brasel family.
“Thankfully, gun violence is a rare occurrence in St. Anthony Park,” the District Council said. “It is, however, a deeply felt tragedy wherever it occurs. Mr. Brasel had deep, long-time roots in St. Anthony Park and the grief at his death is shared widely.”
Brasel’s obituary said Michael “touched countless lives by being the guy that ‘always showed up and did what he said he would do.’”
Called by many names, including “Sweet Prince” by his mother; Michael Brasel was known for “the biggest smile, quirkiest sense of humor, the best laugh, and a zest for life that changed every one who knew him.”
The obituary notice continues:
“Michael was raised in St. Anthony Park, attending St. Anthony Park Elementary School, Murray Junior High School and Cretin Derham Hall High School, where he first met Hilary (later to be his wife) in freshman year. He studied at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where he obtained a degree in illustration.
After Hilary and Michael married, they settled a few blocks from his childhood home in his beloved St. Anthony Park to raise their own family. His job as a residential carpenter on historic and unique homes in St. Paul and Minneapolis, with Golliker Construction, let his meticulous and precise mind and numerous talents shine.
Outside of work, Michael loved to make art and used his illustration degree to create logos, posters, portraits, and most of all screen prints. He loved vintage cars, going to car shows, and anything about automotive design. He loved all kinds of music and going to live music shows at multiple venues in the Twin Cities.
Michael loved playing hockey on multiple ‘old man’ hockey teams and coaching hockey for multiple youth hockey teams over the last seven years. Hockey was his way to connect with his own boys to help grow their skills and confidence, along with those of an endless list of other young players who loved him as a coach.
He also, over the last seven years, built a bigger and better backyard rink so his family could play epic 2v2 games and created a way that his boys would always have a way to skate.
Above all of these amazing talents, the greatest thing about Michael was his genuine heart and endless love for those who knew him best. When you were loved by Michael it was not loud and flashy, but it was genuine and true..
Michael was preceded in death by his mother Nancy. He is survived by his wife Hilary, sons Oliver and Miles, father David (Andrew), sister Heather (Nick), and brother Christopher (Angela).
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Michael’s family: www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-the-brasel-family
This report was compiled by Scott Carlson and Mary Mergenthal.
