Brian Chandler

Brian Karl Chandler was born in Seattle, WA, on  June 2, 1961. He maintained lifelong friendships with those he left there when he moved to Michigan in 1990 with his wife, Sherri DeBoef Chandler and his children, R. Whitman Burns (Elise), Mariel Chandler Nash (Eric), and Anne Chandler Morse (Joe).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Ann Chandler. He was fortunate to be born into a large and loving extended family hailing from Corona Del Mar, CA, Chanute, KS, Tucson AZ, Sacramento, CA, and White Plains, NY. We loved visiting them all and Brian insisted on a big home in our retirement so they would all come and visit us.

Brian worked as a surveyor in Washington State and Kalamazoo, MI. He graduated from Northland College, WS, with an education major. He taught elementary school in Bessemer, MI and North Muskegon, MI. He said he was motivated by seeing his student's lightbulb moments of understanding of a new concept.

Brian was politically aware and well-read. His key life focus was his love, care, and delight with and for his wife, children, and grandchildren (Van Roach, Lena Morse, Chloe Burns, Vivian and Cora Nash, and Teddy Burns), parents, brother Mike (Teresa), aunts, uncles, cousins, nephew… Somehow, I feel we are still within his protective embrace.

Brian was lionhearted and had strong comforting hugs. He protected all he loved and was a caregiver to his core. He bathed his fragile newborn twins so gently and enjoyed his children as they grew. He was the father who played tag with his kids on the playground and took them on hikes in all seasons. We lost all this on September 30, 2026.

If you feel like you need to do something in his memory, he would appreciate a tree planted, or a contribution to cancer prevention.