Michael “Mike” Ahrnsbrak -beloved husband, father, brother, son, and friend, well-traveled adventurer, and lover of all creatures on the land and under the sea-died on Friday, March 4, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma surrounded by his loved ones due to respiratory complications. He was 60.
Michael was born in Bogota, Columbia on June 25th, 1955 to Mary Ann and Frank Ahrnsbrak. He was raised in Dahran, Saudi Arabia, where he discovered his love of animals. He was fond of bringing home every animal he could catch to raise. He moved from Saudi to El Paso, Texas to finish his education when he was 15. After graduating high school, he spent a year working on a shrimp boat out of Southern Florida. He attended school at Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at 24. Upon receiving his degree, he worked as a naturalist in Everglades’ National Park for one year. From there, he became a zoo keeper at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana. He stayed there until he was 28, when he transferred to his permanent career as an aquatics specialist at the Oklahoma City Zoo. He found the love of his life when he found Jody Selman, and married her on September 17th, 1988.
Michael would say his proudest accomplishment was being a loving husband and father. He retired from the zoo in 2000 to spend more time with his family. He continued his love for animals by raising various ones, and tried everything as a pet at least once. He loved music, and always had it playing when he was home. He enjoyed traveling, and continued to see new places late into his life. He loved being outdoors, and spent as much time as he could outside.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann Ahrnsbrak.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jody, his son Mic Ahrnsbrak, his father Frank Ahrnsbrak, his sister Pat Ahrnsbrak, and a host of other friends and family.
Memorial services will be held at 2 PM, Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 at Noble Avenue Baptist Church. Interment will be held at a later date. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
There will be no visitation.
The family is accepting flowers or a donation in his name, may be made to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30309
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Ahrnsbrak, Michael A., 60, zookeeper, died March 4. Memorial services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Noble Avenue Baptist Church (Smith-Gallo, Guthrie).
Michael was born in Bogota, Columbia on June 25th, 1955 to Mary Ann and Frank Ahrnsbrak. He was raised in Dahran, Saudi Arabia, where he discovered his love of animals. He was fond of bringing home every animal he could catch to raise. He moved from Saudi to El Paso, Texas to finish his education when he was 15. After graduating high school, he spent a year working on a shrimp boat out of Southern Florida. He attended school at Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at 24. Upon receiving his degree, he worked as a naturalist in Everglades’ National Park for one year. From there, he became a zoo keeper at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana. He stayed there until he was 28, when he transferred to his permanent career as an aquatics specialist at the Oklahoma City Zoo. He found the love of his life when he found Jody Selman, and married her on September 17th, 1988.
Michael would say his proudest accomplishment was being a loving husband and father. He retired from the zoo in 2000 to spend more time with his family. He continued his love for animals by raising various ones, and tried everything as a pet at least once. He loved music, and always had it playing when he was home. He enjoyed traveling, and continued to see new places late into his life. He loved being outdoors, and spent as much time as he could outside.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann Ahrnsbrak.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jody, his son Mic Ahrnsbrak, his father Frank Ahrnsbrak, his sister Pat Ahrnsbrak, and a host of other friends and family.
Memorial services will be held at 2 PM, Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 at Noble Avenue Baptist Church. Interment will be held at a later date. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
There will be no visitation.
The family is accepting flowers or a donation in his name, may be made to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30309
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Ahrnsbrak, Michael A., 60, zookeeper, died March 4. Memorial services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Noble Avenue Baptist Church (Smith-Gallo, Guthrie).
Michael “Mike” Ahrnsbrak -beloved husband, father, brother, son, and friend, well-traveled adventurer, and lover of all creatures on the land and under the sea-died on Friday, March 4, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma surrounded by his loved ones due to respiratory complications. He was 60.
Michael was born in Bogota, Columbia on June 25th, 1955 to Mary Ann and Frank Ahrnsbrak. He was raised in Dahran, Saudi Arabia, where he discovered his love of animals. He was fond of bringing home every animal he could catch to raise. He moved from Saudi to El Paso, Texas to finish his education when he was 15. After graduating high school, he spent a year working on a shrimp boat out of Southern Florida. He attended school at Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at 24. Upon receiving his degree, he worked as a naturalist in Everglades’ National Park for one year. From there, he became a zoo keeper at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana. He stayed there until he was 28, when he transferred to his permanent career as an aquatics specialist at the Oklahoma City Zoo. He found the love of his life when he found Jody Selman, and married her on September 17th, 1988.
Michael would say his proudest accomplishment was being a loving husband and father. He retired from the zoo in 2000 to spend more time with his family. He continued his love for animals by raising various ones, and tried everything as a pet at least once. He loved music, and always had it playing when he was home. He enjoyed traveling, and continued to see new places late into his life. He loved being outdoors, and spent as much time as he could outside.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann Ahrnsbrak.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jody, his son Mic Ahrnsbrak, his father Frank Ahrnsbrak, his sister Pat Ahrnsbrak, and a host of other friends and family.
Memorial services will be held at 2 PM, Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 at Noble Avenue Baptist Church. Interment will be held at a later date. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
There will be no visitation.
The family is accepting flowers or a donation in his name, may be made to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30309
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Ahrnsbrak, Michael A., 60, zookeeper, died March 4. Memorial services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Noble Avenue Baptist Church (Smith-Gallo, Guthrie).
Michael was born in Bogota, Columbia on June 25th, 1955 to Mary Ann and Frank Ahrnsbrak. He was raised in Dahran, Saudi Arabia, where he discovered his love of animals. He was fond of bringing home every animal he could catch to raise. He moved from Saudi to El Paso, Texas to finish his education when he was 15. After graduating high school, he spent a year working on a shrimp boat out of Southern Florida. He attended school at Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management at 24. Upon receiving his degree, he worked as a naturalist in Everglades’ National Park for one year. From there, he became a zoo keeper at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana. He stayed there until he was 28, when he transferred to his permanent career as an aquatics specialist at the Oklahoma City Zoo. He found the love of his life when he found Jody Selman, and married her on September 17th, 1988.
Michael would say his proudest accomplishment was being a loving husband and father. He retired from the zoo in 2000 to spend more time with his family. He continued his love for animals by raising various ones, and tried everything as a pet at least once. He loved music, and always had it playing when he was home. He enjoyed traveling, and continued to see new places late into his life. He loved being outdoors, and spent as much time as he could outside.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann Ahrnsbrak.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jody, his son Mic Ahrnsbrak, his father Frank Ahrnsbrak, his sister Pat Ahrnsbrak, and a host of other friends and family.
Memorial services will be held at 2 PM, Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 at Noble Avenue Baptist Church. Interment will be held at a later date. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
There will be no visitation.
The family is accepting flowers or a donation in his name, may be made to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE, 6th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30309
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Ahrnsbrak, Michael A., 60, zookeeper, died March 4. Memorial services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Noble Avenue Baptist Church (Smith-Gallo, Guthrie).
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