Obituary of Kevin Duane Ryan

September 9, 1957 - North Battleford, Saskatchewan

August 7, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Kevin Duane Ryan passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, surrounded by the love of his three children and three sisters. Kevin fought a strong battle with pancreatic cancer right until the end but found peace with Jesus before he went into eternal life with peace, grace, and a lot of love.

Kevin was born in North Battleford, SK, on September 9, 1957, to Muriel and Pat Ryan. They moved to Calgary in 1963, where his family were devoted members of the Triwood community for decades. Growing up, Kevin was an athlete and played several different sports including hockey, lacrosse, and football. He was a teenage heartthrob. Kevin graduated from William Aberhart High School in 1975.

Kevin loved the outdoors, being on the water, and in the mountains. He windsurfed around the Hawaiian Islands in his early twenties. Back in Canada, he could almost always be found at the Ryan family cabin on Lake Windermere. He loved houseboating with his family and friends and spent many summers houseboating around the Shuswap in BC.

Early in Kevin's career, he was a bartender and bar manager before going on to have a successful career as a general contractor, renovating many homes and buildings. He even lived out his dream of building his own home north of Cochrane. Kevin loved doing math in his head, and passed on his math talents to his daughter, which he encouraged with her practicing the multiplication tables at an early age.

Kevin had a lot of different jobs throughout his life, but the most important one to him was being a dad. Kevin was a dedicated and loving dad. He would have done anything for his three children, who meant the world to him. He was never too busy to attend their various sports games and assemblies, to play a game (or five) of crib, backgammon, croquet, or throw the ball or frisbee around the yard for hours. He taught his kids the importance of hard work, encouraged them in their individual endeavours and was very proud of the people they have become.

Just like his mom, Kevin had a strong love of animals, particularly dogs and horses. Many considered Kevin a "dog whisperer" for his innate ability to train loyal, obedient, and loving dogs - first with Tara, then Tilly, Jack, Wally, Roo, Gracie, and finally Mia. He combined his love of horses and the outdoors with equestrian camping at Little Elbow in Kananaskis, where he spent several summers with his family and friends.

Kevin was a gentle soul. One could always count on him to be honest, but he was also very kind, soft-hearted, and generous to those who loved him. All these qualities he instilled in his children. Kevin also had a wonderful sense of humour and the best contagious laugh. Though he often repeated the same jokes (like when someone asked him his full name and he replied, "Kevin Duane-The-Bathtub-I'm-Drowning Ryan"), one couldn't help but laugh along with him as soon as he started laughing. Knowing laughter to be good medicine, Kevin maintained his sense of humour throughout his journey, cracking jokes with the nurses during his chemotherapy appointments and with all his family and friends who visited him in his last days. His warm smile, sense of humour, and contagious laugh will be missed by everyone.

Kevin's legacy of love, kindness, and laughter lives on in his daughter Cassandra Rehaluk and her husband David; his sons, Jacob Ryan and Samuel Ryan; and his grandchildren, Maddelyn, Tysenn, and Melody.

He is survived by his three sisters, Karen Ryan, Kathy Prather (Kirk), and Krista Vaugeois (Lorne); and several very loving nieces and nephews. Kevin is predeceased by his parents, Muriel Ryan (nee Hart) and Pat Ryan; and his brother Kirk Ryan.

Kevin's family would like to thank the staff at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, at Unit 47 of the Foothills Medical Centre, and the Dulcina Hospice for their kindness, and for taking such great care of him and helping him through his cancer journey.

In Kevin's memory and legacy of selflessness, please pay it forward to a family member, a friend, or a random act of kindness to a stranger.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Kevin’s family here.

In living memory of Kevin Ryan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-276-2296.