Ryan Eugene Erwin's Obituary
Ryan Eugene Erwin, age 39, of Pinckneyville, IL, passed away on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 4:26 p.m. in Pinckneyville Community Hospital, Pinckneyville, IL.
Ryan was born on June 21, 1978 in Pinckneyville, IL, the son of William Leonard Erwin and Jean Marie "Jeannie" Gielow. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, Conant, IL, and also attended Beaucoup Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, IL, as a young man. As a child, Ryan played little league baseball and loved to go bowling. He loved watching wrestling and football on TV, and was a fan of WWF and the Buffalo Bills. He was totally surprised when he got to see Hulk Hogan wrestle in person. He was on the wrestling team and played football in high school, as well as playing in the band, both in junior high and high school. Ryan was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan. His step-father, Jon Weatherford, treated him to a special trip to see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field where he met some of the players. Ryan also loved to cook and was a gifted artist which a special talent for drawing faces. He had a very kind heart and enjoyed visiting with family and friends, telling stories, jokes and making people laugh. He had a special bond with his grandfather, "Wapa," who he lost in March of 2017. They enjoyed a lot of time together watching TV, shooting pool, playing Yahtzee and keeping the lawn in check.
Ryan is survived by his mother, Jeannie (Jim) Gladson of Pinckneyville, IL; maternal grandmother, Elinor "Nadine" Gielow of Pinckneyville, IL; three step-brothers, Chad (Julie) Griffin of DuQuoin, IL, Billy (Stephanie) Gladson of Carterville, IL, and Patrick (London) Gladson of Murphysboro, IL; three step-sisters, Angie (Tom) Webb of Murphysboro, IL, Lori (James) Denny of Pinckneyville, IL, and Kari (Rick) Forshee of Evansville, IN; two aunts, Elaine (Scott) Hoague of Herrin, IL, and Lori (Tom) Sample of Cape Girardeau, MO; one great-aunt, Virginia Cunningham of Tilden, IL; two cousins, Fletcher Hoague of St. Louis, MO, and Blake Sample of Cape Girardeau, MO; and a special, distant cousin, Linda Brune of Nashville, IL.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Leonard Erwin; and maternal grandfather, Eugene Erwin "Gene" Gielow.
Funeral services will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL, on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend David Kollmeyer officiating. Interment will be at Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL.
Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Children and Family Services.
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