Brian L. Sharpe

Brian Sharpe, a resident of Sanford, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025 at the age of 71, in the home he built with his wife Debbie who passed away two years before. His last days were spent next to his big sunny window with his family, his friends, his caregivers, and the woodpeckers, songbirds, ducks, deer, and other wildlife who shared his big backyard.

Brian was born in Midland in August of 1953 to Robert Sharpe and Berniece Sharpe, and, while he happily spent his entire life living in Midland County, he was proud of his many adventures with Debbie, friends, and family, which included trips to New Zealand, Australia, Belize, Jamaica, the Florida Keys, and many wonderful Michigan parks, most prominently South Higgins Lake State park. During his trips, he sometimes scuba dove, sometimes lounged on his boat, and sometimes fished, but his love of the water was always the unifying theme.

Brian and Debbie were married in November of 1974 and continued their love even after Debbie passed away. Brian is survived by his brother Brad Sharpe and his wife Diane Sharpe, his two sons Steve Sharpe and Mark Sharpe, their respective partners Katie and Kera, his four loving and energetic grandchildren, Malcolm (13), Quentin (11), Sawyer (7), and Henry (1), and numerous nieces and nephews. Brian and Debbie are also survived by an expansive web of family, friends, coworkers, and camping buddies who are simply too numerous and beloved to count.

Brian worked at Dow Chemical for well over thirty years and retired in 2009, but his work didn't start or stop there. He was a talented woodworker, and his creations could be seen all over his home. He was kind and gentle, and he was open-minded and curious in a way that simply never ceased despite his illnesses that took a toll on him.

Though Brian's life was cut too short by cancer and Alzheimer's, he was fortunate enough to make friends and impact lives even toward the end of his life through the excellent care he received from Right at Home in Midland. He touched the hearts of his caregivers and they touched his.

Brian's life will be celebrated with a memorial visitation to be held from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Wilson Miller Funeral Home, 4210 N. Saginaw Rd. Midland, MI 48640. There will be mass for Brian at Our Lady of Grace Parish of Sanford, St. Agnes Church, on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 11 a.m. with visiting an hour prior. Those wishing to make a gift of remembrance may consider Our Lady of Grace Church or Toni & Trish House in Auburn, MI, especially due to their loving care of Debbie in her final days https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/3L7MZX8GM7JWYCFF