Brandon Darrell Hensel, 22, of Sandy Hook, passed away unexpectedly on March 1, at 5:25 pm, at Danbury Hospital as the result of a car accident. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.

Brandon, a lifelong resident of Newtown, was the son of Karen Hensel and the late Kenneth Hensel, Jr, of Sandy Hook. He was a dean’s list student while attending Central Connecticut State University, having just earned his degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace. Brandon had a passion for all sciences and mathematics. He aspired to pursue his education in actuarial mathematics.

Brandon possessed an amazingly energetic and positive spirit and was the ultimate lover of life who could light up any room he entered with his infectious smile and joyful personality. He was exceptionally bright and kind, and was quite the jokester and loved to make others laugh. He was a lifelong athlete, playing town youth baseball and football as a Nighthawk for NHS. During college, he played rugby with the CCSU men’s rugby team, also known as the Hooligans. Brandon loved working out and enjoyed all genres of music and was called a walking karaoke machine! He enjoyed being outdoors, hiking, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. Brandon will be missed by all who knew him.

Brandon was adored and survived by his mother, Karen Hensel, and her partner, Michael Pierwola, of Sandy Hook; brother Jordan Hensel and partner, Christina Moon, of California; and brother Kyle Hensel and wife, Kristen Ashley Hensel, of New Jersey, and their daughter, Khloe Arielle Hensel, Brandon’s beloved niece. He is also survived by his grandparents Shirley Wendling of New York, Thomas and Elizabeth Eaton of Sandy Hook, and Ruth Hensel, of Sandy Hook; aunt and godmother Kristen Werden of Wallingford; aunts and uncles Steve and Siobhan Hensel of Southbury and Patty and Steve Powers of Newtown; and first cousins Aiden, Brady, Ryker, Shane, Cameron, Riley, Joey, Delaney, and Alyssa. Brandon was predeceased by his grandfathers Fred Wendling, Jr, of New York and Kenneth Darrell Hensel, Sr, of Sandy Hook.

Following CDC guidelines, a COVID-sensitive walk-through visitation will be held at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, on Saturday, March 6, between 10 am and 1 pm. Masks will be required. At 1:30 pm, a graveside ceremony will take place at Zoar Cemetery, 53 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Brandon Hensel Athletic Memorial Scholarship, c/o Newtown High School, in Brandon’s honor.

To leave an online condolence, visit honanfh.com.