Michael RYAN Obituary

A good colleague & friend. RIP Mike.

Kia ora te whanau.
I'm not sure if this is the place to put this message out there.

I was thinking to acknowledge all Mike Art work like his portrait he had done for many here in Foxton and I guess where ever he went. Can we have an exhibition of his work . People can bring their pictures to share to show how wonderful this man was. I will be held in the Te Awahou Nuestrom museum.
I know this page is only for tributes. For me this is a huge tribute to a man who had many many talents. Whanau you have my email.
Nga mihi .

Kia ora Te Whanau.
My deepest condolences to you all.

I am in shock to hear of Mike's passing. RIP Mike.

I only met Mike last year,but it was like we had known each other all our lives. I met Mike at the library here in Foxton, I was having a coffee at the library cafe, I was sharing a table with his friends. Mike walks in comes over and sits down and we all start chatting. Next minute Mike asks me.,can I draw a.picture of you. I go ok. So away he went to get his folder and pencil comes back and starts drawing. When he had finished he said now you can look at the picture. I was like wow!! It's very good. I will treasure the picture because it will alway remind me of how we met.

We would meet up and have long chats whether it was in the street or in NW. We had arranged to meet up for a coffee. We'll Mike I will go and have a coffee for us.
Rest in heavenly peace my dear friend.

First met you as a teacher at SHS. From there you trusted me to babysit Ryan when he was just a young chap. Then we met again at feats, and you continued to be the wonderful man that you had always been. Always helping those who were on the outside to ensure they felt included. Rest easy now Mike!!

Mike welcomed us into his warm home and heart, a great guy, will be missed.

I rember you from being a teacher and always loved being a artist and I never really got to see u after I left school it would have been a pleasure to have got a picture from u for memories I would have loved but it's sad about you're passing wish I had got around to you you're gonna be missed Mr Ryan rest in peace ...

To Celeste, Michael, Janna, Sean, Hannah, Brock and Mike's friends and families...I have written this in memory of Mike.
Mike, you were Feats family
and that will never change
You motivated many students
Their fears you did exchange
You let them know you cared for them
You taught them self belief
You loved your art & fitness too
Your gardening gave relief
You loved your peaceful Hobbity Hole
With pottery & treasures around
Nature, flowers and coloured glass
A sanctuary to be found!
You were proud of all your children
You instilled kindness and love
May their aching hearts know some relief
As you guide from up above

It was a pleasure working with you. Rest in peace and fly free.
Until we meet again.
Narelle & Gene (Stratford)

So very sad to hear of mikes pasting a true friend that will never be forgotin from our gym days rip mikey.

KiaOra Micheal Bless you with eternal peace.
I recently saw you at ICU palmy hospital & was going to take you home but you needed to stay night because of blood clot & I remember praying for your healing before I left & was happy to find on FB you were okay.
I'm very sad to hear you have passed & pray you straight into Jesus' arms & we all said Amen.

I will treasure the two pictures you drew of me especially the one with our taranaki maunga in the background

God bless you with eternal peace my friend a man with an integral pure heart & of artist expertise & compassion.

God bless your whanau & your dear children may God protect their lives always from Psalm 91 Amen.

Bless you Mike see you in heaven
one day mate & from my Parihaka Tupuna
Pai Marire (peace & goodwill to you)
Aroha Priest

To the day we met in Foxton bro I didn´t know what to expect but yet we talked and talked and time flew we discussed our lives and things about our dad that I never knew. The other siblings of which Stephen and I had not met and those whom we had. Our Mums and other siblings from both sides of dads families
Life´s journeys and similarities in philosophy. It was a pleasure to meet you and your children to find that family bond that brothers share if only for a little time of reflection I wish it could have been longer.
To your immediate family and especially the children my sincere condolences for your loss.
Rest in love, rest in peace
All my love to you and yours from me and mine
Laurence and Ngaia/Ryan family

It is not the same here without you Mike. We used to have conversations each day about life, politics, or about how proud you were of you children - they really were the light of your life and hearing the laughing and talking between Shawn, Hannah and Brock with my two children used to bring you so much joy. I used to think you were mad with amount you cared for your plants and we would speak about what your gardens used to be like. As I look out now, and I see your car in the driveway, I know how short life can be - I kep expecting to see you come down the stairs for a conversation. I see your friends walk past the front of the house, and look in, hoping for one more chance to talk to you. You had a hard last few years, but you were such a proud man you would never let onto people how hard it really was. On the odd occasion you let down those walls, you would speak about the moments you were going to miss with your kids and how that broke you more than the illness. Rest easy my friend, I wish you weren't gone, but know that you'll be drawing your way through the afterlife, talking about the old days. Miss you my friend.

A true friend will be grately missed

Mike!
The man! The legend!
Always enjoyed seeing you come into the salvation Army store everyday! The jokes you cracked to cheer us up after a long day! Your talent with your sketches and your hard mahi! You will be so missed, my aroha goes out to your children + your whanau at this sad time.
We will all miss you Mike

Mike impacted so many lives, the young he helped and his colleagues alike. Deb Shaw said it all so well, caring and thought provoking guy. Thank you for your time with us at Feats Pae Tawhiti, and after as a friend

Mike...

You were the only person in the world who seen the good in me, who believed in me, and genuinely cared about me. Because of your patience, motivation, kindness, love and commitment to making me a better person, I became one.
You've watched me grow from a young girl, into a young woman, to a mother and a wife. Continuously showering me with positive comments and advice.
You went from being my teacher, to becoming my friend, to very quickly becoming my family who guided me through my adult life, always turning any negatives into positives.
Thank you for doing the hard yards with me to shape me to alot of who I am today.
I'll forever cherish every memory of you.

Rest in peace now Mike.
Much love.

Mike. I only saw a small portion of your varied life but always admired your artistic, creative and passionate flair for life. You will be sadly missed! RIP my friend x

I first met Mike at the Fitness Centre Gym in Hawera when I was a member there. He was a Life Coach before they were even a thing! He was such an interesting man with a different perspective on so many things in life. He was gentle, intelligent, thoughtful and when he smiled or laughed you couldn't help but do the same. He was very influential in the music collection I still have today thanks to all the great music he played at the gym. He seemed to be a man who celebrated his life no matter where he was or what he was doing. Another star in the sky.

An amazing teacher and man. Sending love to all Mr. loved ones. Thank you for making me feel like I matter Mr. RIP

As you say, "I still sound like me!". Your family will remember your voice, hobbity hole garden, and all the love you showered on them! Respect to you Mike. from Julie.Nowell Hawera.

Celeste, Michael and Janna. I've been thinking about the inevitable belonging that I found in your family at the green house on South Rd. That Lynn and Mike made such a beautiful and welcoming home. That not only would a lifelong friend be forged with you Celeste but you also had siblings who were so easy to love My heart has been full of you all this week as you walk your Dad home this final time. "Replace the rent with the stars above, replace the need with love, replace the anger with the tide..."Nga mihi aroha whanau", Love, love , Love, NicXx

Haere haere haere atu ra, moe mai ra e Matua.
Ka nui taku aroha ki to whanau katoa.
Nga mihi nunui mo te awhinatanga i te kura tuarua o Whakaahurangi, me to mahi hauora.
Moe mai koe i te ao moemoea .
Na CJ, Huia, Brian and Katrina Brown.

So sorry to hear that Mike is no longer with us. We often met at markets and events, had coffees and chats and discussions about art and other at times somewhat different pints of view :-) But always such a pleasure to see him doing his drawings of people, and bringing happiness to his subjects lives. He was a very talented man, dedicate father who loved his children to bits. I will miss having our chats... My heart goes out to the children and wishing them strength in the coming time. My condolences to all Mike's family. RIP Mike.XX

l only knew Jill, Colleen, Shirley and Anthony and of course, Aunty Pat. We hooked up online for a yak and things went forward from there matey. l am so glad that when l came back that l visited you at the beach. Great korero matua. You made yourself some enemies, we all do that. But you had mana ol timer. Hopefully those young'ns keep your taonga. Arohamai ki tou whanau e hoa. moe mai, moe mai to moenga ra, haere haere haere atu ra matua.

My deepest sympathy to Mike's family & friends. He will be missed. He had a great sense of humour, great for a chat & a very talented artist. He was an amazing relief teacher at Stratford High and a great friend. He loved all his children so much. Sorry I can't make the service.

sending aro'a to the Ryan w'aanau Bump into Mike a few times he drew a picture of me he was at the Market in Foxton plus he taught at Patea plus new the w'aanau

A very sad day. Thank you my friend for all your support over the years, you will be truely missed. Moe mai ra e te Rangatira. Na te whanau Ransfield

I first encountered Mike Ryan at his fitness center in Hawera, Fit for Life. He exuded vitality, with a passion for health and a heart brimming with joy and dedication. His love for his family, especially his mother, and his artistic pursuits were evident in everything he did. Mike will be deeply missed. May he rest in peace. Much love Linda nee Turner

Aroha to whanauknew Mike in the '70s and '80s worked on the Railways with my Dad. He was an awesome guy, his mum Pat was a beautiful lady always had a lovely smile . Rest with the best Mike

Haere ki te torona o Ihoa e Mr Ryan. From all your best behaved students at Patea High School
Never one to put any of us down, if anything you lifted us up. Will forever remember your smiley face and your willingness to help us be better!
One of the good guys

Take your rest Mr

Gone to soon, so many great memories graowing up in Patea and his time with Stratford Alternative Education programme fly high. R.I.P

Mikes Mum Aunty Pat and my Mum were friends from Patea and have caught up with Mike over last few years and talked about growing up in Patea. He is a talented artist and adored his children RIP Mike. The Gardners from Patea

I walked into Mikes gym 1 day and told me he would have me on stage competing in a year. And he did! He believed in when no one else would. One day I went into the gym moaning about how cold it was and told me to leave... I looked at him and he said leave and walk back in with a better attitude or go home. I walked and stood in the carpark... abit gobsmacked..walked back in and Mike smiled and nodded at me and said " well done, now have a great workout ". He taught me so much about bodybuilding amd sculpted me whole career and who I am today. My mentor. Xxx

My sincere condolences to Mikes Whanau,Thinking of you all at this sad time, Mike was not only a wonderful friend he also motivated and encouraged my husband David to enter bodybuilding competitions, RIP Mike, Arohanui Shona Rongonui and Whanau.

To Mike's family....Celeste, Mike, Janna, Sean, Hannah, Brock and extended family.... my sincere condolences for such a great loss to all. In short " what a bloody great LEGEND" he was. I could write a book on so many conversations we had pertaining to Body Building, protein shakes, music, art... but never politics ( I always backed out of that conversation... I'd come second every time ) A massive loss for his family, a great loss to the community.... until we meet again old friend... Moe mai ra Matua....Moe mai ra...

So sorry to hear of Mikes passing. I have memories of him and his family growing up in Patea and also encouraging me and training me at his gym in princes street in Hawera.
Deepest sympathy to all his extended family .

Condolences to the family and sending lots of love through this hard time. He was such an amazing and positive man. His impact on people's lives has been immense he will be dearly missed. Rest in Love Mike

A brother who will live on in many ways. Always loved by many.

Worked with Mike for awhile at Patea High School a great guy. condolences to his family and friends

Sorry to hear the passing of Mike.
Mike was my tutor at Feats many years ago now.

So many memories with you Mike - Early days at The gym in Hawera and Stratford - you didn't hesitate to look after our kids while I took classes - they loved it! thru to the times when you helped me on my short bodybuilding stint - I soaked up all of your knowledge. I have caught up with you several times on FB when you moved to Foxton - you always had lovely things to say about our family. May you rest in peace now Mike - you have earned your rest .

My sincere condolences to Mike's family at this sad time. Mike played a vital part in shaping the man I am today as he was a relief teacher at Stratford High during my tenure. Hands down one of the greatest, most supportive and genuine good buggers. An avid lover of music and standing up for the little guy. Rest easy mate You will not be forgotten by any of us who's minds you help mold any time soon. Thank you for helping me become the person I am today. I am forever grateful.

Tyler.

So sad to read of Mikes passing. Condolences to the Family. Mike was our Circuit Trainer for the Hawera Ladies Tug-O-War Team many years ago. He was over the moon when we bought home The NZ Title and wanted to display our trophies at his Gym. R I P Mike. Jenny Willing

Sincere condolences to Celeste, Mike, Janna, Sean, Hannah, Brock and all of Mike's whanau & friends.
Lots of great memories, I will miss your randomness and promise to actually pay heed to the instruction and advice you have given me over the years.

RIP Mike, please have a cuppa with mum & Jill for me xx

Arohanui, Jodie & the Hamlin whanau (Patea)

Condolences to family and friends. I knew Mike in the mid 80's from his gym in Princes Street Hawera. Great guy. Many times we played Arlo Guthrie's song where he proclaimed "I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride my motor-cycle". Good times.