Gary W. Bryan

Gary Bryan was a remarkable man, a man who was happiest in the outdoors, under the blue sky, his beloved family or friends by his side. Gary was a man blessed with many things in his life, a life so full of family and friends, a life he drank in full, and loved to the last drop. His life, and his love, blesses all who knew him today.

Gary's story began near the charming town of Allegan, Michigan in 1949, which were such hopeful times in this country. Our proud veterans had returned home victorious from World War II, ready to claim their share of the American Dream they'd fought so bravely for, beginning the Baby Boomer generation. In Cheshire, Michigan, Donald and Evelyn (Shafer) Bryan experienced their own little baby boom, as well, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Gary, at the family home.

Gary was the sixth of seven children in the Bryan home, which was located on a family farm of 120 acres in Allegan County. Gary's mother worked outside the home, while his father worked as a mechanic in addition to caring for the farm, where he raised livestock.

The family packed up and moved down the road to Hamilton when he was a young boy, before moving to nearby Holland on the shoreline. Times were tough for the family growing up, but Gary and his siblings were very close and took good care of each other. He was always a level-headed, well-behaved child, although he was quite strong-willed, too.

Gary formed a lifelong passion for the outdoors at a young age, and when he was just 10 years old, he picked up a rifle for the first time and began learning to hunt.

Gary attended St. Francis DeSales Elementary School, before graduating from West Ottawa High School in 1967. After high school Gary headed to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to attend technical college, where he took a job working for Magnavox. He then worked for Robert Shaw Co. for a brief time, before going to work at Gentex in 1977, where he enjoyed a long career. Gary was very instrumental in the early success of the company, and always met the challenge of hitting production goals, eventually becoming the Plant Manager.

Shortly after starting his job at Gentex, Gary went to Rose's 10-year high school reunion, where he reunited with a pretty former classmate named Rose DeJonge. They made quite a connection at the reunion, and quickly began dating. The couple soon fell in love, and was married on October 15, 1982, in Holland. Rose brought three wonderful children into the marriage, and Gary treated them like his own. Sarah, Martha and Thomas were as important to him as his own son, Trevor.

Rose shared Gary's love for the outdoors, and together they dreamed of owning their own piece of Northern Michigan heaven someday. The couple searched for five long years before they finally found it: 238 glorious acres, their own Field of Dreams, in Barryton, near Big Rapids.

They started off with just a simple trailer on the land, eventually upgrading to a double-wide trailer, and later adding on even more to that. They also added their own private beach on a 35-acre lake, and groomed the land to be the perfect habitat for wildlife, not to mention the many, many family and friends they entertained there over the years.

That was the true purpose of it all, a safe haven from the world's troubles, for Gary, Rose and everyone close to them. Gary loved to take friends up to that land all year long, going hunting, snowmobiling, quad running, or simply taking tours around the land in his golf cart.

Gary fully enjoyed the land all by himself, too. He enjoyed skeet shooting very much, as well as hunting and fishing, or feeding the wildlife he loved so much. As much as he loved those pursuits, he enjoyed teaching them to others even more, and got a great thrill out of seeing friends' and family's success from his lessons.

That's the kind of man he was, though, a man with such a passion for life, yet an even greater passion for people. He doted on his beloved grandchildren, and would tell his own kids not to come over without bringing the grandkids! Gary was the consummate family man, with such a wonderful sense of humor, an infectious laugh and a truly magnetic personality. He was also generous to a fault, and always a friendly, hardworking and helpful man, with an intelligent, active mind, and an enormous, powerful heart.

... And a bottomless stomach, too! Gary loved seafood, and especially anything from Taco Fiesta. His family even brought the magical Mexican dish down to the hospital at his request when he was sick. Gary was affected by arthritis for the past 15 years, slowing him down, yet he remained as active as possible. He loved to mow the lawn on his tractor, and would honk the horn whenever he needed a fresh beer! That was Gary, though. He loved everything about life, to the very last drop. Sadly, he died Wednesday, November 15, 2006, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Gary was an amazing man, a man with an incredible love of life, and of sharing his life with others. Gary was a man blessed with much in his lifetime, from his large and loving family, to the beautiful land he enjoyed so much. He was blessed with much, yet not as blessed as we were to have known him. He will be greatly missed.

Gary is survived by his wife, Rose, daughters, Sarah (Hugh) Reynolds of Holland, and Martha Smeyers of Spring Lake, sons, Thomas (Cynthia) Smeyers of Grand Haven and Trevor Bryan of Holland, his mother, Evelyn Bryan of Holland, sisters, Suzette (Jerry) Hester of Florida, Sandra (Ron) Woldring of Holland, Andrea (Marco) Valero of Holland, brothers, Donald (Joan) Bryan Jr. of Alabama and Richard (Emily) Bryan of Texas, and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Donald Bryan Sr. and a brother George Bryan. The family will receive friends, Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M at the Northwood Chapel of Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes 295 Douglas Ave, Holland. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 1:00 P.M Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, on the corner of James St. and 152nd St. Holland. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Pediatric Oncology Unit, Spectrum Hospitals, Butterworth Campus. Please visit Gary's webpage at www.lifestorynet.com to sign a guestbook or leave a memory for the family.