Brandon Seann Thompson

March 19, 1983 – September 16, 2011

      Brandon Seann Thompson died Sept. 16 while kayaking off Blakely Harbor Park on Bainbridge Island. He was 28.

Brandon was born in Seattle on March 19, 1983, to Tim and Eva Thompson of Bainbridge Island.

      Throughout his childhood on Bainbridge Island he was active in wrestling, football and soccer. Later he became a scuba diver and rock climber, and was near completion of his pilot’s license.

      In 2005, Brandon joined the Air National Guard to fulfill his dream of becoming a jet fighter pilot. He was based in Massachusetts for most of his six-year stint, working as a crew chief and attending college at Bridgewater State. He completed his military duty in July.

      He is survived by his parents, brother Darrin Thompson and great-aunt Sara Wingate of Bainbridge Island; aunt Rinna Merculieff (Fred Kee) of Little Elm, Texas; uncles Larry Merculieff, Eli Merculieff and Thomas Merculieff of Anchorage, Alaska; and cousins Amy, Christopher, Robert, Ron, Leatha, Marissa, and Eli.

      He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Imogene and Russel Thompson of Fostoria, Ohio, and his maternal grandparents John and Stefanida Merculieff of St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska.

      A memorial service will be held at Bayside Church in Kingston at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.

      Donations to the Brandon Thompson Memorial Fund can made through a Bank of America branch.