Aaron M. Koelman

Koelman, Aaron M., age 49 of Minneapolis, passed away on November 23, 2023.

Aaron is survived by his loving wife, Bridget Traut; son, Aleric; father, Bob (Linda) Koelman; mother, Rita Koelman; sister, Bobbi (Terry Foster) Baker; step-brothers, John (Dawn) Petroskas, Chris (Rita) Petroskas; godfather, Tom Kimmes; nephews, Gavin, Ari, Sam, Ripp; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Jake and Evelyn Koelman, Edward and Mildred Kimmes; godmother, Mary Rapatt; and uncle, Paul Kimmes.

Aaron was born in Anoka, MN on January 15th, 1974. He grew up in Princeton, MN, graduating in 1992 from Princeton High School. He then went on to the University of Minnesota where he graduated in 1997 with a BA in Music Performance for percussion and piano. This, no doubt, helped lay the foundation for his inexhaustible talent for rhyming nearly every word or phrase imaginable. Aaron went on to work as a computer programmer and analyst in the medical device industry. On June 16th, 2023, he married Bridget in St. Anthony, MN.

A true Renaissance man, Aaron was also a gifted athlete, playing football, basketball, hockey, and competing in track and swimming. He remained committed to his fitness and was a constant fixture in the gym and at group fitness classes. Despite battling side effects from his treatment, he continued to stay active; going for walks with weighted backpacks and vests, doing at-home kettlebell workouts even with his chemotherapy pump attached, and teaching his son some lifts in the home gym. Aaron continued to go to the gym through August of this year: a true testament to his incredible strength of spirit.

For years, Aaron was an avid bowler. He participated in a bowling league where he once rolled a perfect game. Aaron’s love of sports extended to fantasy sports. He was the founder and commissioner of the Xenos Fantasy Football League, and his witty weekly recaps were a constant source of entertainment for the participants. Aaron also enjoyed gardening and took particular pride in growing tomatoes and peppers, as well as pumpkins with his son.

What Aaron was truly known for was his ferocious intellect. (Although his love of groan worthy puns might lay as evidence otherwise.) He was a voracious reader with the creative soul of a writer. A frequent attendee of roleplaying gaming conventions, Aaron was known as the person to have by your side. Aaron knew not to split the party, to check every door, and to not let bad die rolls affect you. While he started with Dungeons & Dragons, Aaron was one of the first and most respected members of the Dungeon Crawl Classics community. His reputation in the DCC community, and the wider RPG community at large, was as towering as it was true. He was a wingman, an advisor, and a sword swinging barbarian as the occasion merited. (Sometimes leaving jellybeans in his wake.)

Aaron shared his love of games with friends and family, but especially with his son. Aleric's desire to play D&D with him was such a source of pride for Aaron, and he cherished the chance to run an adventure for two of his nephews and Aleric in his final days. He was one in a million.

Aaron Koelman was what all Minnesotans aspire to be: a resilient, good-natured friend to all, loved by a privileged few, and strong in both word and deed. He was known for his decency, humility, and steadfastness. Those who knew him were better for it. He was a devoted husband to Bridget and a proud father of his son Aleric, both of whom he loved deeply.

Aaron’s visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, November 30th at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, 3888 West Broadway, Robbinsdale. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 1st at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 2739 NE Stinson Pkwy, St Anthony. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider donating to the charity PanCan.org to help those fighting pancreatic cancer.