David Brooke Ryan Sr.

David Brooke Ryan Sr., of Waterloo, Indiana passed away peacefully in his home on the morning of Friday, April 6, 2018.

Previously residing in Angola and originally from Clarysville, Maryland, David moved to Indiana to attend Tri-State College in the sixties. He cooked and managed at Azar’s Big Boy Restaurant where he met his first wife and mother of his children, Jan Morley (Wilson).

David ran his own auto shop, Ryan’s 4 Cylinder Motors and worked at a variety of other auto shops over the years as a mechanic including Hires Auto Parts and Vorderman Volkswagen. He was also an amateur race car driver in the 1970s. He built his own racecars, specializing in Volvos, and would drive to races with Jan, in a school bus whose seats had been removed to make room for his racecar.

David was an excellent chef and loved preparing nutritious and delicious food for his guests. He owned a small restaurant in the 1980’s called Ellis Restaurant. His other hobbies included gardening, canning, photography, cheese making, and watching sports. He rarely missed Notre Dame and Indianapolis Colts football games or Indiana Hoosier basketball. He also never missed either of his son’s sporting events or concerts. He was an excellent father; stern when necessary, but consistent and supportive. David was very well read and instilled a love of learning in both of his sons.

David had a high regard for nature and took his sons to hike often as well as yearly vacations to national parks. He had a love for music and his favorite artists included Willie Nelson, The Beatles, and Jerry Jeff Walker. David remarried in the early 2000s to Cathy Creamer, proprietor of Smith Tavern in Waterloo, Indiana. They also took yearly trips together to rustic locales.

Surviving relatives include a brother, Dick Ryan, sisters Linda Barry and Diane Roberts, wife, Cathy Ryan, sons Brooke and Ruben Ryan, and granddaughter Zora Lee. He will be dearly missed.

Services will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 4:00 PM at the Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 875 South Wayne Street in Waterloo.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the Ryan family.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.fellerandclark.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Feller and Clark Funeral Home in Waterloo.