Ben Fournier

“My mission is to live out my God given purpose of leading my family and team with passion, confidence, and grace – reaching out to those who are in the darkest days, and shedding a light of hope for a brighter day.” These are the words of Benjamin Fournier, a loving father, strong public servant, and devoted husband. On April 10, 2023, God called his beloved son, Benjamin Fournier, home to rest and be in His presence. Ben was only 42 years old, and was fatally injured while completing a logging project in Conifer, Colorado. The world lost a bright light that day.

A visitation for Ben will be held Monday, April 24, 2023 from 3-5pm at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 10:00am at LifeBridge Christian Church, 10345 Ute Hwy, Longmont, CO 80504 followed by a graveside service at Greenlawn Cemetery, Hwy 56 and Weld County Road 1, Berthoud, CO 32207.

Ben was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada on June 13, 1980 to Helen and Robert Fournier. He lived in various provinces while growing up in Canada, including Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. He was a happy and helpful child, and enjoyed adventuring outdoors, climbing trees, playing fire fighter with his older brother Paul, and learning about the traditions of the People of the First Nations. He loved riding horses, caring for baby goats, working in the garden with his mother Helen, and listening to the Bible stories taught by his father Robert.

In 1995, Ben and his family moved to Denver, Colorado. There he attended Mile High Academy, where he continued to learn about serving God, and enjoyed four-wheeling in his Ford Bronco. Shop class was where Ben thrived and he became well-versed in auto mechanics and welding. Much of his time was spent with his close friends Eric Nichols and Jacob Sims. He was drawn to the mountains, and snow boarded often in the Rocky Mountains.

Always a hard worker and benevolent person, Ben chose to pursue a career in fire fighting. He attended Red Rocks Community College and received an Associates Degree in Fire Science Technology, and his EMT certification. During this time he worked as a wildland firefighter for Boulder Mountain Fire Authority, and Cherryvale Fire Protection District. Ben truly loved fighting fires, falling trees, and working with his fellow crew members.

Ben continued to pursue a career in fire, and became a volunteer for Mountain View Fire Protection District (Mountain View Fire Rescue). He became a full time career firefighter in 2005, and continued to serve proudly until his death in 2023. Ben loved serving his community and his fellow line members. He was skilled at his job and worked the last few years as an acting officer. Ben served with all of his being, and shed light in the darkest places, and darkest hours. He was loved by many.

Along with being a firefighter, Ben started BD Timber (BD Environmental Solutions), in 2007. He worked closely with the forest service to provide fire mitigation and protection to properties in the mountains. He was skilled at running chainsaws, excavators, skid steers, log skidders, and grapple trucks. The peaceful and beautiful forests of the Colorado mountains was where Ben thrived. Ben’s father Robert worked closely with him on several projects, and they enjoyed time together putting in long days of hard work. Ben had a passion for tree work, and his presence will be missed in the forestry community.

In 2003, Ben met his wife-to-be, Danielle, at a coffee shop in a bookstore. He bravely asked her to go on a date to church, and they soon became an inseparable team. Danielle and Ben were married on April 16, 2005. Ben held the highest level of commitment, and loved Danielle with every part of his being. Together they enjoyed coffee dates, fancy food, camping trips, traveling, and simply being together. Loving God, serving others, and being a light in troubled times, was a calling that Ben and Danielle were committed to.

Nine years into marriage, Ben and Danielle suffered the loss of their first daughter Providence Avery Fournier, at 7 months gestation. His strength in this time of tragedy continued to grow him in faith, perseverance, and dedication to living out God’s plan. He is now holding Providence on his lap, awaiting the moment that his family will be reunited in Heaven.

Ben’s greatest joy, and greatest calling was being a father to his three children Cooper (8), River (5), and Ember (3). Placing his family first, he connected deeply with each child, spending time teaching them to cook, building legos, playing dollies, and playing in the beautiful backyard that he built for them with his strong hands. His family has many special memories of vacations to Woodland Park Colorado and Colorado Springs.Times with him will be cherished for eternity. His legacy lives on in his children, and his love will never leave their hearts.

Ben is survived by his beloved wife Danielle Fournier of Berthoud, his three children Cooper, River, and Ember, his mother Helen and father Robert Fournier of Loveland, his brother Paul Fournier, sister-in-law Gina, and nephew Ryan of Tacoma, WA, his grandfather Roger Lainey of Ontario, Canada, his grandmother in-law Peggy Zeren of Boulder, his in-laws Larry and Jodie Cooper of Berthoud, brother and sister in law Donovan and Jenny Cooper (niece and nephew Zayla and Nolan) of Berthoud, and Ryan Cooper and Patti Vannoy (nephew Case) of Boulder, numerous loving extended family members, brothers and sisters of MVFR, and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter Providence Avery Fournier (2013), his grandmother Rosina Alexia Lainey (2022), and his grandfather-in-law Joseph Zeren (2018).

The Fournier family expresses the deepest gratitude to the brothers and sisters of Mountain View Fire Rescue, Chief Beebe, Chief Sean Flagg, Captain Randy Chase, Randy Norris, Megan Thyfault, Benjamin Cole, Benjamin Carter, Ron Waterman, IAFF Local 3214, Mike Eason, Whitney Blue, Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, Howe Mortuary, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Elk Creek Fire, Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, close family friends, Engineer Abe Searl, and to everyone who has supported us within our community, our family, and friends.

Memorial donations in Ben's honor to help his wife and children may be made by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stapsw-fournier-family

Please share your memories of Ben and condolences with his family by adding a memory below.