Flynn Michael MacKrell

Flynn MacKrell, whose immense spirit and abundant love will forever animate and elevate the lives of all who were blessed to know him, passed away suddenly November 17, 2023, age 18, from injuries sustained in a car accident.

It is impossible to capture in words the profound sense of loss surrounding his passing – and the awesome magnitude of Flynn’s kindness, generosity and grace. He stood 6 foot-4 inches tall, and his sweet face was topped with a raucous crop of gorgeous red hair, but what made Flynn stand out above all was the easy, soft smile that spoke of his incredible inner store of joy and good will.

Flynn had a capacity to find the best in everyone. He was uniquely devoid of malice, instead spending every moment of his tragically brief life as a force of pure goodness and light, chasing away shadows and gloom wherever he went. He earned the nickname “Pied Piper,” because his enormous cohort of good friends and young children he’d care for and counsel were mesmerized by this fun-loving, gentle giant. He put you first; his time was yours. God receives him in Heaven a child at heart, forever young.

Born July 11, 2005, at St. John’s Hospital in Detroit, Flynn spent a happy childhood in Grosse Pointe, a close-knit community stretching along the Western shore of Lake St. Clair. At age 9, he lived abroad and attended school in London, England, his family taking that opportunity to show him more of the world in frequent jaunts across Europe. He and the family traveled extensively across the U.S. in his youth, bound by their love of adventure and of their time together.

Flynn graduated in June 2023 from Grosse Pointe South High School, where he was an accomplished member of the varsity swim team. He excelled on the trampoline and off the diving board, with acrobatics that seemed impossible given his considerable height. Growing up, he’d played football, lacrosse, baseball, and several other sports, but his lanky frame and powerful upper body found their home in the pool. His mother, a formidable and record-setting swimmer in her own right, was extremely proud of her sons’ achievements in the rigorous back-and-forth of competitive swimming. He then turned pro – lifeguarding at the Grosse Pointe City park.

Flynn had entered the University of Dayton in September. There, his compelling personality and easy manner earned him instant friendships with a sizable group of fellow “Flyers,” who will regret his absence keenly.

Most of all, Flynn was in his element with his family and friends. A natural and fearless entertainer, he was quick with a joke, a fascinating tale, a Nerf dart and a throw pillow – be ready, because you never knew which he was about to send your way. He spun stories out of his vivid, expansive imagination, inventing mythical beasts, complex plots and characters, and evocative settings on the fly. He had ambitions to be a film maker, a writer, a creator, sharing his gifts and shedding his light to enrich and illuminate our own experience of this life.

He is survived by his loving parents, Anne Vanker and Thad MacKrell; adoring sister and brother, Lily and Thad; maternal grandmother, Elaine McCollum; paternal grandfather, Thaddeus; dear cousins Johnny and Lauren, Brendan, Marie and Joseph, Molly, Grace, Liza and Jack, Katie, Nolan, John Patrick and Daniel; and 13 aunts and uncles – all of whom are better for having known him. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, John Vanker, grandmother, Margaret “Peg” MacKrell, and cousin, Jack Vanker.

A vigil will be held 7 P.M., Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms. Visitation will be Friday, November 24, 2023, from 2 P.M. to 8 P.M., with Rosary at 7 P.M., at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods.

Funeral mass will follow on Saturday, November 25, 10 A.M., with a viewing at 9:30 A.M., at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church.

Flynn’s father has been on the board of Mariners Inn in Detroit for seven years, and in lieu of flowers, donations in Flynn’s name can be made to the “Open More Doors Campaign” at www.marinersinn.org/capital-campaign/.