Robert (Bobby) Edward Ryan
30 Oct 1947 – 15 Nov 2022
Robert (Bobby) Edward Ryan – beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away peacefully on November 15th, 2022, at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre surrounded by love.
Born to Mary-Kate and Edward Ryan on October 30th, 1947, in Codroy Valley, Newfoundland, Bobby worked on board fishing boats throughout the Maritimes until he moved to Dryden, Ontario in 1966. There, he accepted a position on the call crew at the Dryden Paper Mill, where he worked in various departments including his 37-year tenure in the Electrical Department; a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
He was renowned for his kind soul, sharp sense of humor and passion for the outdoors. He loved fishing and hunting and enjoyed regaling his family and friends with stories of his outdoor adventures; especially his grandson Hunter who would listen intently with fascination. Dad enjoyed using his homemade fishing lures, spending time with his close friends at deer camp and over the years exploring many of the various lakes in the area, with Pickerel Lake being a much-loved destination.
Dad treasured the time spent with family and friends. His reunions were always filled with laughter and warmth, and he greatly enjoyed Sunday dinners with Aunt Marlene and Uncle Charley. His best friend George was also a constant presence in his life, and he always looked forward to their daily banter.
Our dad had a great love for reading, particularly for books about history and the Wild West. He would devour a book within a couple days and his collection of books was ever-growing, which he happily donated for others to enjoy. Aside from his love of reading, he had a passion for music, particularly Irish and East Coast music, and was always humming a tune or doing a jig as he moved around. He was known to be close when you heard a tune being hummed in the air.
His love of Newfoundland was very dear to him even after he moved away. He looked forward to and enjoyed trips back home to Newfoundland and out west to Alberta to visit family, as well as vacations to Mexico and Arizona during the winter months with his partner Susan.
Bobby is survived by his daughters Kelly (Brad) Morrison, Tara (Neill) Boudreau, and grandson Hunter Morrison (little Dude); Susan’s children, Elizabeth (Mike) Hammond and their daughters Camryn and Ada, Christian (Vanessa) Nielsen and their children Kaidyn, Ava and Alec. He is survived by close siblings, Veronica MacDonald, Philomena (Francis) MacIssac, Shirley (Ron) Aucoin, Colette (Ray) Warren, David (Bernadine) Ryan, and Charley (Marlene) Ryan, sister-in-law Cecelia Ryan and several nieces and nephews, which he adored. He is predeceased by his parents Mary-Kate and Edward Ryan, brothers Michael and Colin Ryan, sisters Bernice and Caroline Ryan, brother-in laws Tommy MacDonald and Wilfred Ryan, and dad’s beloved partner Susan Nielsen.
To celebrate his life, family and friends are invited to a barbeque at Sandy Beach in Dryden Ontario on Saturday July 15, 2023, between 11:00am – 3:00pm, to share stories, memories and honor our father. Interment of ashes will be held at Mount St. Thomas Roman Catholic Cemetery in Codroy Valley, Newfoundland on July 28, 2023 at 3:00pm following a graveside service.
In Bobby’s honor, donations may be made to the Dryden Foodbank. Bobby will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Charitable Registration Number: 87167 3042RR
Manager: Allen Huckabay
62 Queen Street
Dryden ON P8N 1A4
(807) 223-3881
Email: drydenfoodbank@drytel.net
