Brandon Matthew Rasnick

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Brandon Matthew Rasnick, joined his mother, Deanne Downs in heaven after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.

Brandon was born on July 30, 1999, in Fort Myers, Florida to Deanne Downs and Joseph Rasnick. Brandon grew up in Lehigh Acres with his sisters Marissa, Raigan and Reese, his cousin Marcus, and his bonus mom, Jenna Borkert. He attended Veterans Park Elementary and Lehigh Senior High School where he made too many friends to count with his infectious smile and loveable dimples (and freckles).

When Brandon was a boy, he dreamed of being a Marine. This dream came true when he was invited to the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune through the help of the Make-A-Wish foundation. Brandon said he wanted to, “save the world from everything and help people”. He was treated as a true Marine for three days and then sent home where he was sworn-in as a lifetime honorary member of the United States Marine Corps. The next year he attended the U.S. Marine Corps ball in Georgia.

As a teen and adult, competing with his dad, uncles and cousins (who were more like brothers) for the “big one” was his favorite past time. He would spend hours fishing whether it was on the Orange River, the Causeway or on a lake somewhere, Brandon loved to fish. If there was water, he had a pole in his hand.

But there was nothing he loved more than his sisters. Marissa was his everything, at every milestone, high and low, Marissa was always there as his rock, mentor and as the best big sister a person could ask for. She also had a huge wardrobe he could steal from! Raigan and Reese loved spending time with their Bubby, having fun in the pool, playing video games, fishing, and playing school.

Whether it was watching a movie, listening to music, or just hanging out, Brandon made everything better, so much better. He was hilarious and could be very silly, pranking the unsuspecting, leaving the room in stiches. He gave the best hugs and always snuggled with the ones he loved. But that was the thing about Brandon, he made everyone around him feel loved and appreciated. To know him was to love him, and he never missed an opportunity to say I love you. And those that knew him were blessed to feel his light, his laugh and his love.

Those that didn’t know him would not have guessed he was fighting a devastating illness. He always put a smile on, even on his most difficult days. Cystic fibrosis is a debilitating and unrelenting disease. It requires multiple daily treatments, a cocktail of medications, frequent hospitalizations and a whole host of other things that take an immense toll on the body. To carry this unimaginable burden every single day and to overcome the pain every single day with a smile no less, takes Herculean strength and that was Brandon. He was brave. He was strong. He was light. And to many, he was their everything.

Brandon is preceded in death by his Mother, Deanne Downs and Uncle, Bobby Rasnick. He is survived by his parents, Joe and Jenna; his sisters, Marissa, Raigan and Reese; his grandparents, Maggie Marcantonio (John), Debbie Davis (Donnie), JoAnne Borkert; his aunts and uncles, Joe Simmons, Larry Rasnick, Tina Turner (Jack), Tami Deltoro (Ramon), Lori Rasnick (Chuy), Neysa Borkert (Lance), Marja Borkert (Jason), and many, many loving and adoring cousins.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023, at New Life Assembly of God, 5146 Leonard Blvd., Lehigh Acres, Florida 33973, at 1:00pm. Everyone who loved Brandon is invited to come and share in remembering and honoring him. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in his honor.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care.