Cover photo for Justin Branby's Obituary
Justin Branby Profile Photo
Justin

Justin Branby

d. December 3, 2017

Justin Branby gave us great music, profound wisdom and passion for a better world. On Sunday morning, December 3, he left this world behind. A severe staph infection stole him away from us at the age of 46. Throughout his month-long battle he was cared for beautifully at Regions and University of Minnesota hospitals and was made comfortable through to the end.

Now we are left to collect up and cherish treasured memories of his all-too-brief time with us. Music was everything to him. Justin started playing guitar and bass around the time most kids start riding a bike. At the age of 13 he was playing bass guitar in a rock band that performed at bars in and around his hometown of Starbuck. He was an extremely versatile musician. Justin played upright bass in the Starbuck High School Band and electric bass in the school's jazz band. For a brief time he was a bassist for the Southwest Minnesota State Orchestra and the university's Jazz Ensemble. Throughout his life, Justin played in a number of bands and performed solo guitar at coffee shops. He left us with a substantial volume of recorded music -- both with bands he belonged to and solo ventures primarily featuring his unique style of using both hands on the fretboard of his guitar. Justin evangelized the work of other musicians as well. He introduced many of us to the music of Stanley Jordan, Django Reinhardt, Joaguin Rodrigo, Jaco Pastorius and many, many more. Music loaded with drama was his passion.Inventive jazz, heavy metal rock and sonically progressive classical were preferred genres. He loved The Beatles and music with poetic flair. His gushing appraisal of Stanley Myers' Cavatina leaves us with music that will always evoke memories of him.

Justin pursued knowledge throughout his life. His dream of completing a formal college education was never realized but he mastered technology skills through his own initiative. Justin built computers and loaded them with Linux software of his own design. He marveled at the technological wonders of our time and dearly wanted to participate in shaping the future of these monuments of the mind.

All of Justin's dreams and potential were held in check by the mental illness that crept into his life in his late teens. He lived in a world of cascading peaks and valleys. In good times, he was a spectacularly loving son, brother and uncle. Our photo collections are filled with smiling images of him embracing his nieces and nephews. His struggle left all of us who loved him emotionally bruised but nonetheless filled with admiration of his quest for a brighter sunrise. Toward the end of his life it seemed as though he had found it.

Justin was born on June 28, 1971 at Glenwood Hills Hospital in Golden Valley, Minnesota. His first years were spent in Brooklyn Park and Spicer before the family moved to Starbuck. Justin spent all of his school years in Starbuck -- and we saw the best of him there. The musical prodigy, the dragster truck aficionado, the kamikaze bike rider, the nature lover, the football player and the protective friend of his little puppy, Julie. He spent portions of his life in Marshall, Minneapolis, Moorhead and Alexandria before finding the place he considered home in St. Paul.

All of us who loved him are left longing for more time with him. We shared his desire to find a better world -- personally and universally. We will continue that mission in his absence.

Justin is survived by his mother Alyne Branby, Justin's brother and sister-in-law Jason and Vineeta Branby and their son Jack and daugher Leela, Justin's sister Jessica and her daughter Ilissa (husband Bobby and daughters Ameya and Kennedy), daughter Brittany (son Aiden) and son Gabriel. He is preceded in death by his father Jerry Branby, paternal grandparents Melvin and Ann Branby and maternal grandparents Ralph and Ruth Stewart.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 15 at Simple Traditions Funeral Home at 671 Snelling Avenue South in St. Paul.

Visitation

Simple Traditions by Bradshaw (Saint Paul-Highland)
671 Snelling Avenue South
Saint Paul, MN 55116

Friday, December 15, 2017
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Service

Simple Traditions by Bradshaw (Saint Paul-Highland)
671 Snelling Avenue South
Saint Paul, MN 55116

Friday, December 15, 2017
2:00 PM
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Justin Branby, please visit our flower store.

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