July 24, 1980 - March 4, 2023
With fond memories and deep love, we regret that we have to say goodbye to Ryan Jerke who passed away on March 4, 2023. Ryan was born on July 24, 1980, in Calgary, AB to parents Joanne Dunbar and Darrell Jerke. He lived there until 1986 when his family moved to Vernon, BC.
He attended BX Elementary, Okanagan Landing, and Hillview Elementary Schools - with also attending Vernon Senior Secondary School.
Ryan loved sports as he was a natural athlete. As a young man, he played hockey and baseball throughout his life. He was a die-hard Calgary Flames fan. He always enjoyed the outdoors, including dirt biking, camping, and hiking. He enjoyed going to the beach and laying in the sun. He loved riding his E-bike to Kaloya Beach to join his family in paddleboarding and picnicking.
Ryan was enthralled by the big mysteries in life. He enjoyed research on things such as UFOs, Bigfoot, and Theology.
Ryan always had an excellent sense of humour, had a ready smile, and had a laugh like a song.
Family was always a huge part of Ryan's life. He spent his time together with them most weekends, and thoroughly enjoyed every family gathering such as BBQ's, holidays, and birthdays.
Ryan enjoyed going to Church from a very young age, and continued to strengthen his relationship with God over the years with the help of Freedom's Door. He used his faith to guide himself through his many struggles in life.
Ryan is survived by his parents, Joanne Dunbar and Tom McCluskey; his siblings, Craig Jerke, Karla Jerke, and Chris Kolodychuk; as well as his niece, Taylor Dunbar, and his nephews Dakota Kolodychuk and Hunter Kolodychuk.
A Celebration of Life, and a reception following, will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 1:00 PM PDT, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5V8. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter.
In lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating in Ryan's memory to Freedom's Door Kelowna, www.freedomsdoorkelowna.com, or the BC SPCA, www.spca.bc.ca.
Condolences, photos, and memories may be sent to the family by visiting his obituary page at www.springfieldfuneralhome.com