Ryan T. Drury

Ryan Taylor Drury, 38, of Minneapolis, died unexpectedly at home April 3 with his loving wife Carolyn at his side. Born in The Woodlands, TX on March 19, 1986, to Kathy and Rick Drury, Ryan grew up alongside his older brother and best friend Sean. While living in Texas, Ryan spent countless hours in the woods playing, building forts, and catching all types of critters with Sean and the large group of boys who lived in the neighborhood.

Ryan and his family moved to Wausau, WI in 1998, where his love for the outdoors grew into passions for snowboarding and watersports. Moving across the country to start middle school could have been challenging, but Ryan quickly developed close-knit relationships with a group of like-minded friends who found adventure everywhere they went.

Ryan graduated from Wausau West High School in 2004. In high school, Ryan pursued a budding interest in music, learning to play both the trombone and bass guitar. He played on the high school golf team and, from the time he was old enough to work, had a part-time job. Ryan diligently saved the money he earned to purchase his first car when he was 16, a red 1974 MG Midget.

After high school Ryan attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering after completing two co-ops with Braun Intertec and a semester at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. At the U of M Ryan found another group of loyal friends who remain steadfast friends to this day. Upon graduation Ryan accepted a position with Braun Intertec where he eventually specialized in deep foundations. Ryan worked at Braun for 17 years before recently starting a new job with Terracon Consultants.

Most importantly, it was during college that Ryan met Carolyn, and they have been inseparable ever since. After dating for many years, Ryan and Carolyn married on September 25, 2021. They shared a love for good friends, rescue dogs and cats, and music of all varieties. Ryan and Carolyn followed their shared love of music to concerts and festivals across the country. Ryan would regale his family with stories of memorable shows he experienced with Carolyn. Sometimes the stories included descriptions of sweltering heat, rain, or long road trips, but always the stories conveyed a love for experiencing live music with Carolyn and their friends.

Ryan was known by all for his kind and gentle soul, his sense of humor, and his ability to connect with everyone he met. Friends and family alike took pleasure in listening to Ryan describe and share his interests and hobbies. Ryan had a special talent for growing superhot peppers. Combining his engineering brain with his green thumb, Ryan obtained high yields from his pepper plants and meticulously tracked his harvests on a spreadsheet. He then turned the peppers into delicious and unique hot sauces for his friends and family. He also loved smoking meats and other treats, and, since Carolyn is vegetarian, Ryan’s meat-smoking prowess was especially enjoyed by his friends. Every family gathering involved barbecue, hot sauce, and spirited debates on many topics. Ryan’s perspective and thoughtful points on life will be greatly missed at future family gatherings.

Ryan will be deeply missed by his wife, Carolyn; his parents, Rick and Kathy Drury of Wausau WI; brother, Sean (Kate) Drury of Waupaca WI; step-grandmother, Marie Drury of Austin TX; and close family members, Beth (Andy) Lain of Little Rock AR, Liam (Jill Giordano) Drury of Geyserville CA, Dan (Andrea) O’Leary of Lexington KY, Kyle Stephens (Diane Garcia) of Los Angeles CA, Zachary (Hannah) Lain of Alamogordo NM, Taylor (Tori) Lain of Ward AR, and Stella Drury of Geyserville CA, and by his in-laws, Tom and Karen Hoff, who loved him as their own. To his nephew and niece, Leo and Bonnie Drury, “Uncle Ryan!” was always the most fun adult in the room, and they adored him as much as he loved them. Ryan was preceded in death by his grandparents, Richard and Bonnie Drury of Austin TX, and Ivan “Jay” and Jane O’Leary of Lexington KY.