03/27/2026
Ryan Christopher Bosley was born on October 6, 2003 in Pueblo, CO to his beloved parents Michael and Denise Bosley. He is the middle child of three, with his older sister, Lauren, and younger brother, Sean.
When Ryan was 16 months, the Bosley family moved to Germany where he began attending German Kindergarten at 3 years of age. Because of his height, maturity, intelligence, inquisitive nature, and enthusiasm for life, teachers often assumed he was older than he was. He absorbed the German language voraciously and spoke fluently despite speaking English at home. A natural leader, even at a young age, he frequently helped teach his peers, not because he was asked, but because he understood things others didn’t. His intuitive intelligence became a defining trait throughout his life and sharing what he knew became part of his everyday interactions. For Ryan, no problem was unsolvable.
Ryan’s life-long love of the outdoors was a passion developed early in Germany and his desire to try everything, lead him most recently to explore activities such as: hiking, backpacking, camping, fly-fishing, hunting, and skiing. Larger than life, both literally and figuratively, Ryan never fit neatly into a box, and those bold enough to try to limit his potential, quickly learned his passionate and curious personality was uncontainable. He approached every aspect of his life fully committed and eager for each and every new challenge.
Being both frugal and generous, he preferred never to be indebted; always wanting to be the giver. He described himself as a bouncing black goat in a family of white sheep, unafraid to stand out with this gregarious and loving nature. Though driven towards excellence and frustrated by mistakes, he never hesitated to laugh at himself often, once jumping up after tripping publicly and yelling “I’m okay!”
The family lived in Germany for ten years before relocating to Alabama, and for the first time, Ryan struggled to find his place, despite his naturally outgoing personality. He missed the outdoor life, academic challenges and diverse culture in Germany. He found a way through these struggles in sixth grade, when he began playing the trombone; thereby beginning a musical journey that would become central to his life.
He excelled in academics. Settling in Sheridan in 2018 as a freshman at Sheridan High School, he had a 4.0 all throughout his career, and a “bad” grade was a 93. As a sophomore, he became more health-conscious and athletic, fascinated by the human body’s complexities and participating briefly in track and cross-country. He enjoyed striving for a bar that no one else could meet, only to raise it higher. Ryan’s love of music bloomed during his Sophomore year, and he made All-State Orchestra, repeating this distinguished achievement his junior and senior years. He achieved All-State Jazz Band, All-Northwest Band, and during his senior year, he was selected as a musician in the All-National Band. At the University of Wyoming he pursued a double major in Music and Physiology. Always eager to learn from experience he adjusted his ambitious academic pace after taking 19 credits his first 3 semesters, adding an extra year to balance his studies with recreation and personal growth. His goal was to apply to the WWAMI medical program to become a physician. Shadowing numerous doctors, he thoughtfully planned how to balance career and family life.
Ryan seemed to know everyone and was recognized almost everywhere he went. He formed friendships easily and had a gift for making people feel seen, special, valued and genuinely loved. Deeply compassionate, empathetic, and conscientious to a fault, he apologized so often that his friends had to set limits. Many of those friends have said “He would give you the shirt off his back and if he couldn’t do that, he’d go buy you one.” Ryan often said, “I just want to help people,” and lived his life with the absolute authenticity of someone who was committed to living with integrity. He recently taught himself to play the acoustic guitar, and was on his way to mastering this skill to support his passion for worship music.
Ryan was never one to ask for help from anyone and usually “had to learn everything by himself” the hard way, though almost always only once. Naturally frugal and minimalistic, he arrived at NebWyoDak Camp in 2021 with a sparsely loaded backpack for the entire week. While others brought suitcases and bedding, he declined the chance to return home for more supplies simply saying, “I’ll figure it out.” Humbled by this experience, he began a life of extensive over-planning and scheduling, with five-year plans, ten-year plans, lifetime plans, and hourly plans. However, he always built in time to prioritize the needs of those he loved.
Ryan developed a long history with camp ministry, first as a camper and later as a counselor. In 2021, he joined Bethesda Worship Center and immediately began serving. He especially enjoyed working with children whose energy and joy matched his tender heart and playful spirit. Known for wearing pineapple socks and his pink pineapple hat at kid’s camps, Ryan made sure no child felt left out. He participated wholeheartedly in every activity, sang and played guitar with the worship team, participated in small groups and Bible studies, and served with depth, sincerity, and contagious dedication. He co-led worship at “Communion America” in 2025 with a group that represented Wyoming at the National Mall for 50 hours of worship and intercession for the nation.
A loyal and devoted friend, Ryan possessed an extraordinary capacity for a love with infinite depth. He cultivated a vibrant spiritual life grounded in prayer and a sincere desire to know and experience God, hoping everyone he met would encounter the same love for Jesus he had.
Ryan is survived by all whose hearts are now breaking. His light burned incandescently for all the world to see, and his spirit will endure far beyond the years he spent gifting us with his presence, having touched the lives of countless others.
This chapter may be closed, but Ryan’s already sown the seeds of kindness, hope, love and faith as his legacy.
He hasn’t left us but, in typical Ryan fashion, he is leading the way.
A private family viewing will be held on Friday, April 3, 2026.
A public viewing will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at Champion Kane Funeral Home.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Ignite Wesleyan Church, in Sheridan, WY. Pastor Scott Lee officiating. A cookie reception will immediately follow.
If you are unable to attend the service click on the link below please.
https://ignitewesleyan.org/
For those in Laramie, you may go to the Gryphon Theater, at 710 E. Garfield, to watch the live stream from the service in Sheridan, WY.
Online condolences may be written at https://www.kanefuneral.com/
Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.
