Ryan Eugene Erwin of Pinckneyville
Ryan Eugene Erwin, 39, of Pinckneyville, passed away at 4:26 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Pinckneyville Community Hospital.
Ryan was born on June 21, 1978 in Pinckneyville, the son of William Leonard Erwin and Jean Marie "Jeannie" Gielow. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, Conant, and also attended Beaucoup Baptist Church, Pinckneyville 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 played in the band, both in junior high and high school.
Ryan was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan. His stepfather, 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 with 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; maternal grandmother, Elinor "Nadine" Gielow of Pinckneyville; three stepbrothers, Chad (Julie) Griffin of Du Quoin, Billy (Stephanie) Gladson of Carterville and Patrick (London) Gladson of Murphysboro; three stepsisters, Angie (Tom) Webb of Murphysboro, Lori (James) Denny of Pinckneyville and Kari (Rick) Forshee of Evansville; two aunts, Elaine (Scott) Hoague of Herrin and Lori (Tom) Sample of Cape Girardeau; one great-aunt, Virginia Cunningham of Tilden; two cousins, Fletcher Hoague of St. Louis, and Blake Sample of Cape Girardeau; and a special, distant cousin, Linda Brune of Nashville,
Ryan was preceded in death by his father, William Leonard Erwin, and his maternal grandfather, Eugene Erwin "Gene" Gielow.
Funeral services will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 6 with Rev. David Kollmeyer officiating. Interment will be at Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville.
Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 and from 8-10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Children and Family Services.
Pyatt Funeral Home in Pinckneyville is in charge of arrangements.
For more information or to sign an online guest register, please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com.