Ryan Wetters (1986

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Ryan Christopher Wetters, age 22, of Geneva, fell asleep at his home in Geneva only to awaken in his Heavenly home on Monday, May 25, 2009.
He was born June 24, 1986 in Tallahassee, Florida the son of Brian and Kathy (Booth) Wetters. Ryan’s childhood years were spent in several different towns where he attended local schools while is dad worked for BP Amoco. They lived the first years in Bainbridge, GA before
moving to Marietta, GA in 1992. In 2000, Ryan’s family came to make their home in Geneva, IL. Ryan enjoyed sports all along the way including baseball, soccer and later, football.

He graduated from Geneva High School and continued his
education at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb where he
studied economics and political science. Following graduation in
2008, Ryan began working as Business Manager in their family
business, Right At Home, in Batavia. He also spent many
Saturdays working at the Mill Creek Market.

He was a member of the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva and was a proud alumnus of Geneva High School Football.
Ryan enjoyed fishing with his friends at all of the Mill Creek ponds but most recently took the family boat and several friends to Lake Heideke, near Morris, IL.

He, along with many of his friends, were avid Cub’s fan and spent many hours of joy and sorrow at the “Friendly Confines” Ryan loved the Atlanta Falcons and never bowed to the pressure of converting to be a Chicago Bears fan. He also was a “CSPAN junkie”, venting daily and putting his political science education to good use. Though he left without being able to say good-bye, Ryan leaves behind a
legacy of memories for all of those he loved to cherish for a lifetime.

He leaves his loving parents, Brian and Kathy Wetters
of Geneva; one brother, Alex Wetters, a student at Iowa
State University and a close group of friends, including his
best friend, Bernie Potkanowicz of Geneva, IL.

He joined his maternal grandparents, Lee and Lotchie Booth and his paternal grandparents, Dale and Jane Wetters, who preceded him in death.

A funeral service to celebrate Ryan’s life was held Saturday, May 30,
2009 at 11 a.m. at the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, 227 Eastside Dr.,
Geneva. The Rev. Carl Gray, pastor of the church, officiated and interment followed on June 1st in Tired Creek Cemetery near Cairo, GA.

“Go forth into the world in peace. Have courage. Hold on to what is
good. Return to no person evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted,
support the weak, help the suffering, honor all persons. Love and serve
the Lord, rejoicing in the Power of the Holy Spirit.”
based on I Thessalonians 5

On Demand Video of the Funeral Service available at
Conley Funeral Home

Ryan died from Cardiac Dysrhythmia in his sleep.
Young people die each week from sudden cardiac arrest, many like Ryan were thought to be in perfect health.
Several organizations are dedicated to increasing awareness and prevention through cardiac screening.

Midwest Heart Community Foundation

Parent Heart Watch
Be sure to read Stories from the Heart .

Tributes and Condolences

Reprint - Christmas in Heaven, author unknown / Brian Wetters (Dad)
Christmas In Heaven We’re wondering what Christmas in Heaven is like As we grieve alone and pray, longing for one who has gone before To spend Christmas in Heaven today. And so in our dreams we wander far From the scenes and sounds...

Continue >>

FOR ALL OF YOU WAITING IN HEAVEN / Mom
I thought of you today but that is nothing new.

I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name.

All I have are memories and a picture in a ...

Continue >>

Thanks For Our Son / Mom
It's Thanksgiving morning and I awoke with a dread
Reminded of your absencefirst time in 23 years
Dad and I debated if his long prayer should be said
Remembering past meals with fond mem...

Continue >>

Poem For Ryan / Brian Wetters (Dad)
This is a very simple poem for our son Ryan
Whose sudden death at age 22
Has left our family heartbroken
And our hopes shattered too.

Ryan was our loving son
In the most recent years
Moving along his life journe...

Continue >>

Letter From Dad / Brian Wetters (Dad)
Ryan’s Last Day on Earth – Monday May 25
Ryan’s First Day in Heaven – Monday May 25

To My Earthly Son Ryan:

Needless to say son your departure from our lives has resulted in tremendous heartache i...

Continue >>

Click here to pay tribute or offer your condolences

His legacy

Geneva High Students Tested for Heart Ailments
Article posted: 4/5/2012 4:21 PM- Daily Herald Article on Geneva High School Cardiac Screening on 4/5/20

Brian and Kathy Wetters believe no parent should enter a child’s room to wake them up only to find their son or daughter died in their sleep of an undiagnosed heart ailment, like they did. So Thursday, more than 1,100 Geneva High School students were tested for potentially fatal heart abnormalities. Ryan Wetters, 23, died in 2009 at his parents’ house. An autopsy revealed he had suffered a heart rhythm disturbance. The family decided to use memorial gifts to pay for a Young Hearts for Life screening at his alma mater. Boys lined up on one side of the Mack Olson Gymnasium, girls on the other, separated by a heavy curtain, to wait their turn for the 4-minute electrocardiograms. (For modesty’s sake, the girls’ tests were conducted behind individual screens.) The EKGs detected and recorded electrical activity in the heart, and the heart rate. Parent volunteers, trained by the Midwest Heart Foundation, conducted the tests. Results were then reviewed by physicians. Those whose results indicated something suspicious were further tested by having an echocardiogram — an ultrasound picture of their heart. “I’ve never even heard of this (sudden cardiac attacks and death),” said senior Peter Archibald, 18, while waiting for his test. “I’d rather know if I have anything or not, and it’s free.” Test results are being sent to parents, and those students whose results indicate the potential of something serious will also receive a telephone call from the Midwest Heart Foundation. According to Dr. Joseph Marek, founder of the foundation, an EKG can detect about 60 percent of people at risk for sudden cardiac death. And there is a false-positive rate of about 2 percent, he said. Of problems found, about 30 percent are due to hypercardiomyopathy — a thickening of the walls of the heart muscle. The thickening distorts the tissue, interfering with electrical conduction, which can lead to the heart stopping, or it beating out of control. Since 2006, the foundation has screened more than 75,000 teenagers, Marek said. By Susan Sarkauskas

Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Video on Sudden Cardiac Arrest- 2-10-10 from Chicago WGN TV

Ryan is on the 4th page of pictures on the Parent Heart Watch segment.

Ryan's Photo Album

Ryan Wetters

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Bring the memories home by publishing your online memorial as a genuine hardcover keepsake

This memorial website was created by Kathy Wetters on 08/23/2009.
click here to contact Kathy

Audio & Video

	06 - In The Garden - Alan Jackson
	(Click to play)
	15 - I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You - Alan Jackson
	(Click to play)
	Cold Water by Damien Rice
	(Click to play)
Click here for more audio and video

Memorial Candles

	Mom lit a candle on 04/08/2012: "Happy Easter Son! Love always, Mom"

	Dad lit a candle on 12/23/2011: "Ryan, Not a day goes by without reflection of you. You will always be in our thoughts and in our hearts. Xmas 2011."

	Mom lit a candle on 11/24/2011: "I'm thankful today for 22 wonderful years with you in our lives. We miss you so very much. Until we meet again."

	Mom lit a candle on 07/04/2011: "It's another July 4th Ryan. So many fun summer vacations and great memories. Miss you so very much."

	Mom lit a candle on 06/24/2011: "Happy 25th Birthday Ryan! Alex and I went to your favorite place for lunch today. We miss you terribly."

	Mom lit a candle on 05/25/2011: "2 years ago today, the world as we knew it ceased to exist. You are daily in our thoughts.We love you dearly, Ryan."

	Dad lit a candle on 04/26/2011: "Easter 2011 - Son, Alex and I played with your golf clubs. Your spirit was with us, and will be always. Love, Dad"

	Mom lit a candle on 12/25/2010: "Remembering 22 wonderful Christmas seasons and missing you terribly. Love Always, Mom"

	Mom lit a candle on 07/04/2010: "Remembering today, all of the great trips to Cape San Blas on the 4th and how much you loved the ocean. Love you always."

	Mom lit a candle on 06/24/2010: "Happy 24th Birthday Son! Alex and I went to your favorite Mexican place in Batavia for dinner.Missing you so much."

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