EDWARD FRANCIS (NEILL) RYAN

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EDWARD FRANCIS (NEILL) RYAN

March 31, 1966 - November 15, 2024

We are deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Edward Francis “Neill” Ryan on November 15, 2024, at the age of 58.

Left to cherish his memory are Lisa Pilkington and sons, Ethan and Cole Matthews.

Also mourning his loss are sisters, Sheilagh, Nancy (Marc) Arbez, brother Chris (Renee), nephews, Pierre (Nina Walker) and Jacques Arbez (Aja Ethier), nieces, Haley and Keira Ryan, Lisa’s father Gordon, sisters, Lynn (Donald) Dyker, Lana (George) Moir, and brother Sheldon (Erin) and their families, as well as his cousins and numerous friends.

Neill was predeceased by his parents, Colleen and Keith and brother-in-law Nick Marks.

Neill was born on March 31, 1966, and raised on the family farm in Rosser, Manitoba. He made his first group of lifelong friends while attending school in Rosser, Grosse Isle and Warren Collegiate.

With a little persuading from his father Neill attended University of Manitoba graduating in 1991 with a Diploma in Agriculture. His next batch of lifelong friends developed while attending University, and to this day he always said how glad he was that his father had pushed him in that direction.

As a young farmer helping on the family farm, he held numerous other jobs such as with the City of Winnipeg Weed Control, running his garden centre on the family farm (with help from his mom of course), and with Rutherford Farms.

Farming full time alongside his father and brother became a reality in 2003, giving Neill many memories of the challenges and successes that came along with a family farm.

Retiring from farming in 2013 led him straight to a job as a Project Manager for Native Grass Solutions. This job gave Neill the opportunity to “keep things growing.” Young university students were hired each summer to work on projects, Neill always referred to them as “My” summer students. He guided them and they kept him young at heart. He retired once again in 2022 and many of those young people stayed connected with Neill right up to now. Some were looking for a job reference, but most were calling to celebrate with him their achievements in life. He was most proud of the few that became his avid fishing partners.

The saying “You can’t take the farm out of the boy” could not have been truer when it came to Neill after his move into the big city. Many comments were made about how much he missed farming. Close friends gave him the opportunity to jump in a combine at harvest the last few years and help, bringing him so much happiness.

Neill was not one to sit idle for long, so he took two part-time jobs, with Enns Brothers and with his friend's yard care business Garden Bed Girl, both of which employed Neill until his passing.

In his younger years he enjoyed playing baseball, hockey, motocross and playing the drums. His “Older” years gave him new hobbies like watching the Jets play (as a couch coach), naps, breakfasts with the boys and of course fishing. One weekend of fishing at Lake of the Prairies was all it took for Neill to be “hooked.” In-depth research started when he got home and before long there was a boat in the driveway and numerous fishing rods and tackle quickly followed. His favourite trips taken with friends included Baker’s Narrows and Viking Lodge in Northern Manitoba, searching for the biggest lake trout he could reel in.

Neill had a smile that could light up a room, a booming voice, and the personality to go with both. Our home was filled with a whole lot of laughter and a little bit of chaos with him in it. He kept us grounded, was our biggest supporter, and the voice of reason. Truly ONE OF A KIND! He loved everybody but more importantly WE LOVED HIM.

Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., Thomson “In the Park”, 1291 McGillivray Blvd.

If friends so wish memorial donations can be made in Neill’s memory to Harvest Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 23, 2024, Nov 23, 2024