Ryan T. Castle, Died September 8, 2019

Ryan T. Castle

Died Sep. 8, 2019

MAPLE CITY – Ryan Thomas Castle, 37, of Maple City, passed away Sunday, Sep. 8, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving family.

Ryan was born March 24, 1982 in Traverse City the son of Thomas and Barbara Castle.  He was a 2001 graduate of Glen Lake High School.  After high school, Ryan joined the U.S. Army, departing for boot camp on September 11, 2001.  Ryan served with the 118^th Military Police Company (Airborne) Fort Bragg North Carolina, 221st/3rd Military Police Detachment Fort Eustis Virginia, U.S. Army Recruiting station Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, 472nd Military Police Company Fort Wainwright Alaska, and 28th Military Police Detachment Fort Wainwright Alaska.

Ryan had over twelve and a half years of service and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.  SSG Castle earned his Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge and was deployed twice to theaters of combat in Afghanistan and then Iraq.  Among the many awards and ribbons, SSG Castle earned the Combat Action Badge and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device.  Ryan was honorably medically discharged from the Army on August 17, 2014.

Ryan loved all things outdoors.  Ryan took extreme care of his vehicles, almost to the point of OCD some would say, in the care he gave to making them look meticulous on the inside and out.  As a teenager his truck may have been rusty on the outside but the inside was immaculate  Ryan loved four wheeling, hunting, and fishing as well as spending time with family and friends.

On any given fall Sunday, you could count on finding Ryan cheering on his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.  He was one of the color guards on the field for the Steeler's home games during his time in Pennsylvania.  Ryan also always enjoyed playing a round of golf with friends and family.  He loved taking his chocolate lab, Gemma, to the lake to play and swim, and of course a doggy ice cream cone after.  He also enjoyed playing euchre with his family and friends every week.

Ryan was a very giving person, always helping others, no matter what they needed... no questions asked.  He always had a smile to share and was the heart of any and all gatherings.  Ryan will hold a special place in every heart that knew him.

Ryan is survived by his parents, Thomas and Barbara; his daughter, Ashlynn; two sisters, Jennifer (Timothy) Butts, and Shannon (Anthony) Sheffer; six nieces and nephew, Kara, Nicholas (Caelyn), Kaylee, Kylie Butts and Ella and Madyson Sheffer; four uncles, Dave and Bill Castle, Walter (Barbara) and Gary (Laura) Klingelsmith; two aunts, Barbara and Linda Klingelsmith; and many loving extended family members.

Ryan was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Bruce and Mary Castle and maternal grandparents Bernard and Neoma Klingelsmith, two uncles, Dave and James Klingelsmith, as well as his beloved childhood dog, Tipsy.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 16 with the family greeting friends as 12 noon at the Holy Rosary Church of Cedar.

Memorials may be directed to K9s For Warriors at www.k9forwarriors.org and/or the Military Police Regimental Association at www.mpraonline.org.

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