Obituary of Oaklee James Hirsch

Oaklee James Hirsch, 6, left this earth on Friday, May 27th, 2022, in his sleep, to go on tour with his Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior. He was born to Brittany Ferrell and Brandon Hirsch, on August 25th, 2015, in Waconia, Minnesota. 

Oaklee attended Spero Academy, a special needs school for autistic children. It was one of his favorite places to be, and he was wonderfully supported there

Oaklee shared the summer of 2015 with the birth of two cousins, born within 6 weeks of each other. They are considered the three musketeers.

He had the ability to make anyone fall in love with him. It was hard not to with those big beautiful brown eyes and blonde curly hair that bounced in the sunshine. Oaklee had enthusiasm beyond imagination!

Oaklee spent his mornings and breakfast with Papa Duane when he wasn’t in school, and he loved to play the tickle monster game with his Nana Toni.  He loved being outside and pulled in his blue wagon by his mom and dad. The wagon was a necessary tag-a-long for him, the guy who loved to run wild and free, and climb on anything. Nicknamed our little “Mogli”; he earned this as he so reminded us of the little boy in the “The Jungle Book” story.

He had many favorites, the first and best was jumping on his trampoline outside, (AND the one in Nana’s living room). He would jump and do tricks that most adults couldn’t do. He would then head over to “his” park - Bryantwood Park, where he learned to swing.  Oaklee thought he owned that big green swing, his favorite place to be with his mom and dad.

Children like Oaklee with Autism have many different ways to express themselves, one such way is called “Stimming”. There was shredded newspaper everywhere as it was his favorite way to stim; the house looked like a gerbil cage, but he was happy.  He loved playing with his mom and dad's hair, flapping his hands with excitement, and jumping and singing on his indoor trampoline.  When he wanted to play, we couldn’t say no— he would grab our arms gently and walk us in the direction of what he needed or wanted, whether that be to juice, a snack, or to wrestle and tickle.

His love for music is how he learned to count and say his A,B,C’s. We’re sure that during Halloween, the neighborhood got pretty tired of listening to the Monster Mash playing on the speaker in his wagon all the way from Halloween through Christmas!

Oaklee was a beloved Son, Grandson, Great Grandson, Nephew and the best part of his wrestling crew that included 9 cousins.

Oaklee was proceeded in death by his grandfather Terry Lonnon, great grandmother Betty Johnson, great grandmother Pam and stepdad Everett Bondurant, and Dave Ferrell and great Uncle Douglas Hirsch. Oaklee is survived by: his beloved parents Brittany Ferrell and Brandon Hirsch, grandparents Duane & Toni Hirsch, Jackie and Steve Ferrell; great grandparents Shirley & Alden Hirsch, Gerald Johnson, June and Glenn Kirkland; sister, Nichole & Chad Kuechle: (Sunny, Annie, Odin), brother, Jason & Jill Hirsch: (Breckon, Brody,  Brynlee), and sister, Ashley Hirsch: Parker, Faith, Bentley, and aunt MacKenzie Ferrell.

Oaklee’s Celebration of life will be held on Monday, June 6, 2022, at 11:00a.m. at Trinity Lutheran in Long Lake, MN. (No interment). The service will be streamed live at www.trinitylonglake.org/services. Bright colors requested in lieu of black for the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Spero Academy (info@spero.academy).