Ryan Van Wolfe

Ryan Van Wolfe, age 60, passed away May 18, 2022, at Edwards County Hospital, Kinsley, Kansas. Ryan was born October 9, 1961, at Porter Memorial Hospital in Englewood, Colorado to Robert A and Sylvia J. (Cecil) Wolfe. Ryan was a long-time resident of Lewis, Kansas.

Ryan attended Kiowa Elementary School, Kiowa, Colorado, through fifth grade. The family then moved to Lewis, Kansas and he completed his education at Lewis Schools. He worked with the family harvest crew, traveling from Texas to Alberta, Canada. He spent a period of time working in Alliance, Nebraska with a construction/roofing company and eventually returned to work with the family business.

As a toddler Ryan was a talker. The family lived near the county shop, and he often made his way over to the shop and visited with the workers. No doubt he was drawn by the trucks, road graders and equipment. Eventually they would call Mom, and someone would go over and bring him home.

Horses and cattle were part of daily life during his younger years. One day while riding, he was probably five years old, he slipped in the saddle, his foot was caught in the stirrup, and he had a rough ride before he was rescued.

Like all of his older brothers, he tagged along after his dad and learned skills that he used throughout his life. He was a hard worker, and, in the shop, he demonstrated the ability to fix equipment, even things that looked impossible to fix. He was a problem solver and found innovative solutions, that surprised even his brothers. Of course, anyone who has worked on equipment knows it can be frustrating. Occasionally he would have to retrieve an item that ended up across the shop when it didn't cooperate with him.

The talkative toddler grew up to be a seemly quiet man, but for those who had opportunity to work with him in the harvest field, he would open up and talk about sports, music and books. Ryan enjoyed reading. He was fond of Louis L'Amour and often reread the same book when they had occasional rainy harvest days.

Being a quiet man, Ryan voiced few complaints (though he sustained several painful injuries over the years). During this final illness his only voiced compliant was of leg pain and then during the short stay in Salina Regional Hospital he said, 'this bed sure is uncomfortable.'

He was concerned about others and when he knew family from out of state were traveling back to Kansas, he wanted to be sure they stopped to see other family members. Just the day before his passing, he knew his sister, Karon, was coming to visit and he said, 'she needs to stop and see Randy.

Was Ryan a saint? No... he had habits and imperfections that are part of being human, but he was a caring person and willing worker trying to do his best job. Ryan will be missed by friends and family, including many nieces and nephews and siblings:

Cynthya Billinger, Rob Wolfe (Brenda), Karon Garrett (Dude), Mary Joan Johnson (Gene), Randy Wolfe (Carrie), Reed Wolfe, Lynne Hutchison (Wendell), Regan Wolfe, Ross Wolfe (Lisa) and Misty LaChance (Steve).

Ryan was preceded in death by his parents Robert A. and Sylvia J. (Cecil) Wolfe, and niece, Roberta (Bobbie) Noelle Coupland.

A graveside service will be held for Ryan at Wayne Township Cemetery, Lewis, Kansas at 11:00 am. on Tuesday, May 24th. There will be a gathering at The Rock Building in Lewis following burial.

Donations may be made to Edwards County Hospital in care of McKillip Memorial Funeral Home, Kinsley.