Obituary of Ryer John Schuster

September 24, 2007 - Calgary, Alberta

October 6, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Ryer John Schuster was engaging and energetic with mischievous blue eyes and a huge smile. Tall, strong, outgoing, and provocative; he was also caring, kind and sweet. He was loved by so many.

Born 24 September 2007 in Calgary, AB, to Cassandra Wilde and Erik Schuster, Ryer loved people, nature and animals. He grew up with his cat Übel, and his Briard Someday. He knew everything about ants, bees, wasps, and dinosaurs. After it rained, he saved worms from deep puddles or dry pavement. He gently picked up insects and carried them to safety. He constructed ladybug habitats in the fall and rescued injured wildlife and neglected animals. He loved to play with his dogs, Éva and Buffy, and snuggle with his cats, Mmiri and Keena. Keena, his 24-toed calico, was his baby.

Ryer was strong-willed, self-assured and determined. As a toddler, he would insist, “My do it” because he wanted to do everything and he wanted to do it himself. He knew exactly what he needed to do and would do no more and no less. Call it lazy or efficient, as you will, but he got C’s in middle school, then decided he wanted to be a doctor and got honours and scholarships in high school. His last grade was 95% on a Biology 30 test.

Ryer was daring and adventurous, wasn’t afraid of anything and never backed down from a challenge. He packed a lot of life into his 17 years. He learned yoga, taekwondo and guitar; and gardened and climbed trees with his mom. On their beach vacations, Ryer explored massive caves, snorkelled, scuba dived, ziplined, toured ancient ruins, collected seashells, chased waves on the shore, and built remarkable sandcastles. With his dad, he flew model airplanes, learned archery and riflery, made blow guns, assembled engines, watched movies, discussed philosophy, stargazed, watched the Northern Lights, built campfires, took late-night walks around the neighbourhood, and talked for hours. This summer his dad taught him to ride a motorcycle and bought Ryer his own CBR250R.

Ryer loved people and was always surrounded by friends. Ryer was loud, playful and a jokester. He played soccer for years, mostly for friendships. Teachers appreciated his sense of humour but wished he would stay on task in class. Ryer attended Louis Riel’s Science Program from Grades 1 to 9 and was a little scientist at heart. He attended Henry Wise Wood High School and played on the gold medal-winning Warriors Rugby team, breaking his collarbone in the process.

He loved his family, and his parents loved him more than anything. Ryer adored visits with Grampy John Schuster from London, ON. They painted art together and went to the Calgary Stampede every summer. Grampy gave Ryer the warmest clothes. Ryer also enjoyed visits with Nana Lorna Schuster and Papa Paul Cowley from Aylmer, ON. They geocached, built bottle rockets, and talked about everything. His many aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family cherished him.

When he was twelve, Ryer was blessed with a stepdad, Callum Allen, and two stepbrothers, Renan and Ethan. They were his little minions and worshipped the ground he walked on. At nearly 6’4” tall, strong, and handsome, to their eight and five-year-old eyes, he was the authority on all things—especially fun. He taught them to mog and mew, whip off their shirts to admire their abs but also modelled kindness, consideration and manners. Together they all swam, rock-climbed, rode bikes and scooters, engineered Lego sets, read books, played grounders and videogames, camped, hiked and climbed mountains.

Ryer’s friends say he was always there for them and never let them down. He made many friends over the years—athletes and intellectuals, shy and outgoing, awkward and polished, driven and laid-back—and he got along with everyone. They stayed friends even as they moved and changed schools over the years. Ryer was entertaining, always making people laugh, sending the crazy Snaps, and coming up with something new to say all the time. His friends know he loved to play with fire, both literally and figuratively, and loved to go fast and there was no telling him no. As a teenager, like many fifteen and sixteen-year-olds, he was trying to figure out right and wrong; good and evil. The pendulum of his political and social views swung with all the grace of a flail, but he was kind to everyone.

Adults in Ryer’s life commented on how polite he was, how he spoke effortlessly with people of any age, and how he would stop whatever he was doing, look you in the eyes, and ask how you were. They said he was remarkable, amazing, impressive, and such a cool kid. Ryer worked as an auto lot attendant and vehicle detailer, taking on the responsibility of someone much older and doing a great job.

Spirited, independent and confident, Ryer tragically lost his life in the wee hours of Sunday, October 6, 2024. He will be terribly, horribly missed by his friends, family, and community. We take solace in the opportunity we had to know and love this amazing young man.

Memorial Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

Ryer had a soft spot for our city’s homeless population. In his honour, please show them love and compassion.

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

In living memory of Ryer Schuster, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.