Aaron Harris Kaiser, age 24, of Traverse City, died from a gunshot wound in Long Lake Township on Monday, April 27, 2020.

Born in 1995 on a bright blue October Columbus Day morning in Nashua, NH to Pamela Harris Kaiser and Dan Richard Kaiser, Aaron attended Windham NH Elementary and Middle Schools and graduated with honors from Traverse City West Senior High School. He was a graduate of Northwestern Michigan College, attended Grand Valley State University, and had been pursuing a degree in nursing at NMC.

An especially sensitive, kind and gentle spirit, Aaron was our "Sweet Pie" and is remembered for his empathy, sense of humor, multiple intelligences, inquisitive mind, and beautiful smile. He loved his family and friends in Michigan, New Hampshire and Colorado, studying science and Russian language, campfires on Long Lake and Lake Michigan, winning at Scrabble, Frisbee golf, hammocking and the doing the Hoola-Hoop. He was happiest hiking in mountains, dunes, woods and fields with his friends, brothers, and Maremma Sheepdogs Caesar, Annabelle Lee and Ecco.

Aaron fought a courageous battle with anxiety, depression, and neurological pain. He greatly missed his friends, classmates and instructors during the statewide shutdown for Covid19. Tragically, when Aaron could not access essential in-person health or mental health care, a non-compliant local gun shop remained open for sales, selling a shotgun that cost Aaron his life.

Aaron is survived by his parents, brothers Seth, Tadd and Liam, grandparents Jack and Ruth Harris, and Sharon and Ed Fox. He was predeceased by his grandparents Bill and Barbara Kaiser.

Services for Aaron's immediate family and friends were held outdoors on Sunday, May 3rd in keeping with Aaron's love of nature. Other mourners showed support from their cars as the bagpiper played Amazing Grace in honor of Aaron, whose life brought us great joy and has much to teach us still.

In lieu of handshakes, the "Hang Loose" hand signal was offered with thumbs up and pinkie extended, which forms the letter L for Love.

Donations in Aaron's memory can be made to the NMC Foundation's Fund for NMC at https://nmc.edu/give , Nami Grand Traverse at https://namigt.org , or Every Town for Gun Safety at https://everytown.org .

In pursuing justice for Aaron, please vote, as he intended, for accountability, transparency, ethical leadership, and positive change in local, state and national elections.

To share memories of Aaron, please visit https://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com/obituaries/Aaron-Kaiser