Brynnley Joyce Koehler

Loving Daughter, Granddaughter & Niece gained her wings on September 16, 2026. She passed away in the loving arms of her parents.

She is survived by parents, Brenden & Rachael; grandparents, Stacy Aho, Craig Aho, Shane Koehler (Melissa Orttel), Carri (Eric) Kratt; uncles, Mike (Rosalyn) Aho, Jacob Aho, Devon (Kate) Koehler, Dawson Kratt, Tyler Kratt, Chase Heim; great-grandparents, Vicky Aho, Cindy & Lonnie Lansford, Judy Crandall, Gary & Cindy Koehler; great-great-grandmothers, Mary Jane Koehler, Joyce Smith; godparents, Brittany Krause, Tera Krause, Jacob Aho, Dawson Kratt; many extended family members. Preceded in death by great-grandparents, Mike Aho, Tom Crandall, Debbie Smith; uncle, Brandon Aho.

Brynnley battled Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) since the moment she was born. She endured 291 days of surgeries, procedures, machines, needles, medications, setbacks, scary nights, hopeful mornings, and more than any little baby should ever have had to endure. She never got the easy version of life, but somehow she still found ways to smile, laugh, snuggle, give us attitude, and remind everyone around her that underneath all of the tubes and wires was just a little girl who wanted her mama, her daddy, her bunny, and to be loved. And boy, was she loved. She showed us what strength looks like in a five-pound little girl who somehow kept getting back up and fighting. Brynnley taught so many people about CHD and HLHS.

Because of her, people who had never heard the words congenital heart defect or hypoplastic left heart syndrome learned what they meant. They learned what these babies go through. They learned what a Norwood is, what a heart transplant can mean, what life in a cardiac ICU looks like, and just how much these tiny babies are capable of fighting through. We are so grateful that she received a donor heart.

Her story will be talked about, learned from, and remembered by the people who cared for her. I hope someday another baby benefits from something doctors learned because of our girl. She taught us that some of the smallest people can leave the biggest mark on the world.

A special thank you to the loving care team at Children’s Hospital Minnesota & Mayo Clinic for their compassionate care & commitment to Brynnley.

Brynnley’s life will be honored with a funeral service at 2 PM Friday, September 25^th with a visitation beginning at 1 PM at Roberts Family Funeral Home. Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake. Memorials preferred to the family or the Children’s Heart Foundation.