01/27/2026
Michael Arthur Ryan was born two months prematurely, in Taft, California on October 30, 1948.
He passed away at Munson Medical Center on January 23, 2026, surrounded by his loving family, after a medical emergency. His parents were Arthur Ryan and Willie Elizabeth (Beard) Ryan.
Big Mike, Mic, Daddy, Daddio, Uncle Mike, Grandpa, GeeGee or Geeg, whatever term of endearment you referred to him as, was certainly a man that will not soon be forgotten. He was a truly humble man who helped others without fanfare, strove always to be a testament to his faith in Jesus and unequivocally, he loved BIG. Spending time with his family was his greatest happiness, second only to cutting wood. “It Is Well with My Soul” was not only his favorite hymn, but a way of life for Mike. Even through immense tragedy, it was always well with his soul because he knew who was in control, his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mike spent summers in Beulah and Crystal Lake as a child, and moved to Benzie County with his parents, permanently, in 1959. His parents became turkey farmers and lived in many different homes in the Benzie County area, including on Marshall Road, County Road 669, Narrow Gauge Road, Ely Road, and Arborvitae Road. He had several jobs in high school and worked in the pines (as most young men did back then). He also worked for Les Bair, Bob Rayle, and Don Andrews. He graduated from Benzie Central High School in 1966 and attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City for two years, studying to be a biology teacher and/or an ornithologist planning to eventually transfer to Michigan State University. In 1968, he went to Alaska and worked for a while for his uncle at Standard Oil, then came back to Michigan, and on March 20, 1969, heeded the call to serve his country and join the United States Army. He served for two years which included a tour in Vietnam, Company D, in the 84th Engineering, 4th Division Battalion. Mike’s Army processing took place in Detroit, MI, basic training at Fort Knox; AIT was in Fort Polk Louisiana. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Schwa Bish Gmund in Germany, serving in a Pershing missile group. He was assigned to be a clerk in the motor pool. He wanted to find a different kind of role because he was out of his element with no training. He was then 10-49’d (volunteered) to Vietnam. “I was too young to vote, but old enough to carry a gun & fight for our country, with no concept of the nightmares to come.” While in Vietnam, Mike was a heavy vehicle driver in D-company in the 84th engineer battalion where he received job-specific training. No matter the training or role, all soldiers became multifaceted in myriad positions. Mike was a landmine sweeper, assisted with road repair & served in the following locations while in Vietnam: Tuy Hoa. An Khe, Pleiku, Quy Nhon, then to Buon ma Thuot where he ended his tour and came home to Michigan. He served in Vietnam: January 18, 1970 – December 11, 1970 Mike was honorably discharged as an E4. He was awarded a sharpshooter medal, Vietnam service medal, and VCM/60 device. After his service he returned home to Northern Michigan and over the next few years he worked for Ott Edinger, Joe Link, All Lakes Dock & Hoist, HW Jenks, Curt Barons, M&L Masonry, Crystal Mountain, and General Production and KB Oil (in California), all before finding his home with Paul Maurer General contracting, where he worked in construction for 31 years.
Mike embarked on a 53-year adventure when he married “his bride,” Deborah Genne Kochis on an icy Friday afternoon, January 19, 1973, at the old county courthouse in Beulah, Michigan. Together, they raised three amazing, beautiful daughters, and created a comfortable home filled with laughter, books, music, and most of all, big love, where there was always room for one more at the dinner table.
Nature was another source of joy throughout his life. Planting trees and flowers and vegetables were an important part of his life. He LOVED picking blueberries from Ryan Road every August and storing bags in the freezer to enjoy all winter long in blueberry pancakes with peanut butter (a Ryan-family-delicacy). He was an avid hunter of morels and Petoskey stones. He thoroughly enjoyed feeding and caring for a diverse array of songbirds, and other creatures from his wooded backyard which gave him and his family countless hours of enjoyment. He could identify almost any bird, mushroom, tree, or plant in the Northern Michigan area and from a young age, loved hikes and walks in the woods near their family home in Honor, he mentored his girls – instilling in them a deep and profound affection, appreciation and humble respect for the natural world.
Mike was a proud and devoted member of Eden Bible Church, where he served as a trustee, and a deacon, Mike loved Jesus Christ as instructed in the Bible, “with all of his heart, soul and mind, and he loved his neighbor as himself.”
He was a very loving and devoted son, brother, husband, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, father, father-in-law, grandfather, GeeGee, friend, and employee. His wife, Deb (his babe), was the light of his life. His three precious daughters meant everything to him. One thing Mike would tell you for sure until the day he died was that when his grandson Isaac Julian was put into his arms shortly after being born, he knew that God had put him on this earth to be a grandpa! He was the very best grandpa ever to Isaac, Abigail, Jack, and Ridley and an amazing great grandpa (GeeGee or Geeg) to Milou Moon.
Mike is survived by his bride of 53 years and four days, Deb; daughters Jenn Ryan (Eric VanDussen), Christina Ryan-Stoltz (Joshua Stoltz), and Jessica Ryan (Mike Rucki), his three honorary daughters: Angie LoCicero, Rudy Strickland, and Jeanett Pritchett; his son’s in love, Philip McKinnon, John Hodge, Geoff Turner; his precious grandchildren, Abigail Hodge (Micah Byrnes), Jackson Hodge, Ridley Ryan-Turner, and his equally precious great granddaughter, Milou Moon Byrnes. Also surviving Mike is his sister Kay Hammond; father-in-law Bob Junkleman, brothers-in-law, Danny (Stef) Kochis, Paul Kochis, Bobby (Kathy) Junkelman, Jeff Junkelman, and Tim Hunt; sister-in-law Catharine Hansford, and many beloved nieces, nephews, many cousins, including his favorite cousin Randy (Deb) Harris, and many dear friends and neighbors.
Proceeding Mike in death were his mom and dad, Billie and Art Ryan, his father and mother in law, Daniel and Mary Kochis, his brothers in law, Peter Kochis and Russell Kochis, his nephew, who was like a son, Jeremiah Kochis, his precious and beloved grandson Isaac Julian Ryan- McKinnon, his sister-in-law Joni Hunt, his great nephew Johan Horstik-Brenes, and his very favorite uncle, Kennith Cardell Beard (who was only two years older than Mike and was like a brother) and also died on January 23, 2026.
Memorial contributions can be made directly to the family. A service will be held Tuesday February 3rd at Eden Bible church at 4:30 pm, with visiting one hour prior. Arrangements by Jowett Family Funeral Home of Benzonia, Mi.
