Ryan Denk

Ryan was born on October 8th, 1988 in Michigan City, IN to parents David William Denk and Judith Kay Pappas-Denk. Ryan attended Bridgman High School, where he left truly unique & lasting impressions on his fellow students there (and everyone he amused or irritated along the way). Ryan was a skilled and dedicated independent contractor who had an extraordinary talent for carpentry. Following in the footsteps of both his father & mother, Ryan was also an extremely gifted painter & visual artist. A lifelong fan of both the Cubs & Dodgers, Ryan loved baseball & watching games with his Dad. He was also a motoring enthusiast and enjoyed doing work on his many different cars over the years. Most of all, Ryan was an exceptional dog-dad who loved to spend time with his furry pit-bull children. Ryan was also a devoted son who loved his father & mother immensely, and who always loved his friends like they were family. Ryan shared a passion for music with both of his parents, as well; some of Ryan's personal favorite artists were Tupac Shakur, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and so many others.

Ryan is preceded in death by his father David William Denk & mother Judith Kay Pappas-Denk. Ryan is survived by his brother Jason David Denk and adoring fur-children Zen & Digger.

A private celebration-of-life event is being held for family & friends on May 3rd at The Willow Ranch in Grand Junction, MI.

As Jerry Garcia once so eloquently sang..

/ it's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken / perhaps they're better left unsung / I don't know, don't really care / let there be songs to fill the air /