Gary James Ryniak, born on November 15,1957, escaped this mortal coil in Woodhaven, Michigan on November 25, 2021. Devoted husband to Diane, beloved father to Sarah(Eugene), Jen(Steve), Joe, and Hannah, and doting grandfather to Quinn and Nora. Son of Casimir and Iris Ryniak, brother to Rick, Ken, Ron(Gail), and Mike(Becky).  He is preceded in death by his father Casimir and his brother Ron. Gary graduated with his Bachelor's degree from Notre Dame and finished his Master's degree at the University of Michigan. He dedicated his life to learning and teaching--relishing in the culture created around the sharing of knowledge. He was a devout Traditional Catholic at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  He took pleasure in studying his faith at a profoundly deep level, incorporating an analysis of ancient Latin and Greek and sharing his analysis with his family.  He loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.  Countless pleasant hours were spent with family -- sitting around watching shows and quoting Seinfeld , sharing good meals, chatting around a table or bonfire, and competing in midnight/early morning Wii battles.  He was a consistent, loving, and hilarious grandpa, always ready to babysit, compare whistles, whip out magic (i.e., science) tricks, watch dance routines and Disney movies, take multi-mile bike rides to the metropark, and walk patiently through the buzz of museums and trick-or-treating.  He wowed family, students, and colleagues with his science-themed magic tricks over the years. He knew how to brighten a room with laughter and enjoyed pithy quips and philosophizing. He never missed an episode of Jeopardy , the Tour de France, or a Notre Dame game; consequently, he enjoyed tossing a football around, biking, and destroying people in Trivial Pursuit.  He was the ultimate competitor but could accept the very rare defeat with a chuckle (although he was not above stacking the odds in his favor by competing in level 1 Spanish contests on language learning apps, winning hands-down, then disappearing mysteriously from the forum).  He was always eager to try new things, like new recipes or tea concoctions. He is the perpetual owner of all maps and directions, and was excited to find and plan alternate routes.  He was a masterful story-teller and could also always be counted on to answer questions about everything, accurately and precisely, while embellishing with additional facts and nuanced historical anecdotes.  He always had a knack for imparting the most profound wisdoms, at the least expected yet most appropriate times. This knowledge would always seem to be exactly what was needed at exactly the right moment in time, as if he had an insight to what your soul was seeking that you had no clue was there to be seen by others. As a science and math teacher he touched the lives of countless students, parents, and faculty members in the Riverview School District. He inspired students to pursue their goals and dreams through higher education and to strive for their fullest potential. Through all of the priceless roles that he played in others' lives, he was able to practice the idea of agape --the self-sacrificing, unconditional love for mankind.  His family and loved ones have learned innumerable things from him, yet this practice of agape is the most important.  We are all eager to enjoy his company again someday.  Until then, he's spending his eternal summer vacation chilling at the beach, looking for cool rocks, and no doubt exploring the planets and constellations he loved to stare at while sharing interesting facts about the cosmos.

Visitation at the Taylor Chapel of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home on Sunday, December 5, 1-8pm and Monday, December 6, 1-8pm. Rosary Monday at 7:00pm. Instate at St Joseph Catholic Church (3521 4th St, Wayne, MI 48184) 9:30am until time of Mass at 10:00am.

Interment at St. Hedwig Cemetery.