Austin Patrick Sherwood was born February 21, 1992, in Bridgeport, CT, the son of Jeffrey R. and Brenda S. Braton Sherwood. Austin passed away at 5:07 p.m., Saturday, June 24, after a two-vehicle crash near his home in Fort Collins.
Austin was loved by all who met him. At 25, he had seen the world and made lifelong friends with everyone who came to know him. Despite being so young, Austin knew exactly who he was and never tried to act any differently.
Austin grew up in Bloomington, Ill. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 2010 and was a member of the 2008 state champion football team. From there he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, in which he proudly served 5 years as a 6174 Huey Crew Chief. He was a United States Marine Corps veteran, serving in the HMLA 269 “Gunrunners” squadron which was deployed to the Middle East in February 2014. Austin was an air crew chief on the UH-1Y Yankee helicopter. In 2015, Austin was honorably discharged from the Marines. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Austin was enrolled at Colorado State University and was a member of VFW Post 15006 in Ft. Collins.
Before starting his college career in Colorado, Austin met the love of his life, Ronni Norton. The two of them were inseparable before moving to Fort Collins. Austin enrolled at Colorado State University where he studied fermentation science. He worked at New Belgium and Bondi Beach Bar in Old Town Fort Collins. Austin loved every aspect of bartending, more accurately he loved his beer and the science behind it. The underlying key to his passion for life and success was his love for people. Austin could walk into any crowd and begin to shake hands, smile, laugh, and give his world-famous hugs to everyone he met.
Austin was hit by a drunk driver while on his way to work at Bondi Beach Bar. He was heading east bound on Laporte Avenue when a west bound SUV made a left hand turn right into Austin’s path. Austin collided with the SUV. He was taken to the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, where he arrived in critical condition. The doctors did everything they could but the trauma to Austin’s brain was so severe he was put on life support. If you knew Austin, you would know that if anyone could survive this it would have been Austin.
On June 24, Austin was taken off life support with his family and friends around him.
Known as big Uncle Aust, he was always up for a wrestling match, board game or a quick lesson on the slopes. To his brothers, he was part of a set that was celebrated every time they were together. To his parents, he was their pride and joy with the ability to accomplish anything.
He is survived by his mother, Brenda Sherwood of Aurora; his father, Jeffrey (Tara Conklin) Sherwood of Bloomington; three brothers, Andrew (Hillary) Sherwood of Colorado Springs, Christopher (Jamie) Sherwood of San Diego, CA, and Sam Sherwood of Quantico, VA; four nephews, Joshua, Henry, Ben and Luke; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and the love of his life, Ronni Norton of Ft. Collins. He is also survived by his dog, Tig, his St. Mary’s family, his Central Catholic family, his Marine Corps family, his Bondi Beach Bar family, Lucky Joe’s family and his New Belgium Brewery family.
Austin was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Carol Sherwood and Sam and Joyce Braton.
Austin was loved and inspired by all those who knew him.
A funeral mass was held at 2 p.m., Friday, June 30, at St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington, with Rev. Dustin Schultz officiating. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Merna, with military rites accorded. To express condolences online, visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
