1986
Johnathan
2023
Johnathan Brakel
December 24, 1986 — April 15, 2023
Johnathan Kalwa-Brakel (24 December 1986-15 April 2023)
The lifeforce of Johnathan Barret Anderson “AJ” Kalwa-Brakel, an uncontainable energy that glowed brightly for 36 years, 3 months and 20 days, has escaped his earthly bonds.
Never one to miss a celebration, AJ showed up early Christmas Eve 1986 in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, where he attended Princeton Public Schools before reluctantly moving to Hopewell Township in 1995. A charismatic personality, AJ never met a stranger and instantly forged his place in local folklore. He attended Mercer County Community College as a 2005 Hopewell Central High School graduate.
In a life that requires tapping the breaks as you enter the curves, AJ was all about the gas pedal. He was a thrill seeker who enjoyed ATVing, shredding the powder in the Rockies, and hiking the peaks of the Appalachians in North Carolina and Vermont, where he began gore diving at age five. His lifelong happy place was the soccer pitch, where he was always the trigger man with a ‘gangsta’ reputation in the box. In truth, his family considered AJ but an egg - tough-shelled on the outside and nothing but liquid gold on the inside.
A luxury car aficionado, he would always share the make, model, year and horsepower from only the engine’s rumble around the corner, whether you shared his passion or not. Woe to the cheapskate millionaire – AJ could call out a poor choice of rims, his infectious cackling laugh vibrating mercilessly afterwards. He found beauty and appreciation in luxury vehicles, often stopping for at least 20 minutes to photograph one from every angle. His admiration of sumptuous rides extended to the waterways of the Southeast, from Wrightsville Beach to the Florida Keys. Equally striking in good looks and sense of humor, AJ routinely garnered an open invitation to a day’s adventure with anyone who crossed his path.
His beloved New York Jets will play with a twelfth man on the field this season, especially against the Philadelphia Eagles. Often with little to rejoice about football season – the Eagles’ losses would cause him to break out his neon smile that far outshone the lights of Times Square!
AJ is deeply lamented by his treasured parents, Andrew Kalwa and Juli Anderson, Wilmington, NC and Thomas Brakel of New Egypt, NJ; his number one fans, brothers Dr. Christian Kalwa, Wilmington, NC, and Dylan (Savannah) Kalwa, Pennington, NJ; sisters Jenna Kalwa, West Hartford, CT, and Kaitlyn Brakel, Davie, FL; his cherished grandparents Carl and Helen Anderson, Leland, NC; four nephews and nieces; his loving, supportive aunts and uncles; a plethora of friendships, his ever faithful and adoring dogs Emma and Frank and a ridiculous collection of footwear, highlighted by a stockpile of high fashion sneakers.
A genuine competitor, always first to cross the finish line, on 15 April 2023, in Wilmington, NC, AJ went to live with the moon, proving T.S. Elliot right, “April is the cruelest month.” His sudden departure significantly annoyed his mother as they never got to enact the final pages of Robert Munsch’s classic, I love you, forever.
His family asks that if you are so moved, you make a donation to either of these foundations in his memory:
ACCESS of Wilmington, Inc.
https://www.accessilm.org/make-an-impact
FIRST – Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=first&id=215
Aquamation Services have been entrusted to Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation.
The lifeforce of Johnathan Barret Anderson “AJ” Kalwa-Brakel, an uncontainable energy that glowed brightly for 36 years, 3 months and 20 days, has escaped his earthly bonds.
Never one to miss a celebration, AJ showed up early Christmas Eve 1986 in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, where he attended Princeton Public Schools before reluctantly moving to Hopewell Township in 1995. A charismatic personality, AJ never met a stranger and instantly forged his place in local folklore. He attended Mercer County Community College as a 2005 Hopewell Central High School graduate.
In a life that requires tapping the breaks as you enter the curves, AJ was all about the gas pedal. He was a thrill seeker who enjoyed ATVing, shredding the powder in the Rockies, and hiking the peaks of the Appalachians in North Carolina and Vermont, where he began gore diving at age five. His lifelong happy place was the soccer pitch, where he was always the trigger man with a ‘gangsta’ reputation in the box. In truth, his family considered AJ but an egg - tough-shelled on the outside and nothing but liquid gold on the inside.
A luxury car aficionado, he would always share the make, model, year and horsepower from only the engine’s rumble around the corner, whether you shared his passion or not. Woe to the cheapskate millionaire – AJ could call out a poor choice of rims, his infectious cackling laugh vibrating mercilessly afterwards. He found beauty and appreciation in luxury vehicles, often stopping for at least 20 minutes to photograph one from every angle. His admiration of sumptuous rides extended to the waterways of the Southeast, from Wrightsville Beach to the Florida Keys. Equally striking in good looks and sense of humor, AJ routinely garnered an open invitation to a day’s adventure with anyone who crossed his path.
His beloved New York Jets will play with a twelfth man on the field this season, especially against the Philadelphia Eagles. Often with little to rejoice about football season – the Eagles’ losses would cause him to break out his neon smile that far outshone the lights of Times Square!
AJ is deeply lamented by his treasured parents, Andrew Kalwa and Juli Anderson, Wilmington, NC and Thomas Brakel of New Egypt, NJ; his number one fans, brothers Dr. Christian Kalwa, Wilmington, NC, and Dylan (Savannah) Kalwa, Pennington, NJ; sisters Jenna Kalwa, West Hartford, CT, and Kaitlyn Brakel, Davie, FL; his cherished grandparents Carl and Helen Anderson, Leland, NC; four nephews and nieces; his loving, supportive aunts and uncles; a plethora of friendships, his ever faithful and adoring dogs Emma and Frank and a ridiculous collection of footwear, highlighted by a stockpile of high fashion sneakers.
A genuine competitor, always first to cross the finish line, on 15 April 2023, in Wilmington, NC, AJ went to live with the moon, proving T.S. Elliot right, “April is the cruelest month.” His sudden departure significantly annoyed his mother as they never got to enact the final pages of Robert Munsch’s classic, I love you, forever.
His family asks that if you are so moved, you make a donation to either of these foundations in his memory:
ACCESS of Wilmington, Inc.
https://www.accessilm.org/make-an-impact
FIRST – Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=first&id=215
Aquamation Services have been entrusted to Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Johnathan Brakel, please visit our flower store.
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