Services were held Monday, Sept. 26, at St Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction for Ryan Chandler Tiffany, 38, of Jefferson.
Words of comfort were offered by Fr Michael Kellogg of Becker, MN, and Fr Jeff Schleisman of Jefferson. Music was provided by vocalists Meladee Graven, Brenda Roberts and Sheilah Pound. Keri Brooker was accompanist.
Honorary bearers were Nate Karber, Jessica Karber, Gabe Karber, Melinda Teagarden, Kim Karber, Kori Woods, Mandy Karber, Kyle Karber, Brennan Karber, Seth Karber, “My Next Family,” the Jan Scharingson family, and “My Bank Family”- Grand Junction Peoples Trust & Savings Bank employees.
Casket bearers were Chris Lansman, Chad Lansman, Harve Rice, Matt Paulsen, Derek Kennedy, John Lint, Andy Krieger, Leo Brooker and Todd Rueter. Interment was at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Grand Junction.
Ryan Chandler Tiffany was born on June 10, 1978, in Iowa City to Penny (Karber) Tiffany and the late Timothy Tiffany. He died on Sept. 22, 2016, peacefully at his home in Grand Junction after a very short battle against cancer of the pancreas. Ryan will never be forgotten and will live on in each of our hearts.
Ryan attended elementary school in Perry, and middle school through high school in Jefferson where he graduated in 1999. While in high school he worked in Ram Restaurant, ran the Ram Trolley and job trained at Pizza Hut with Charity Ehmen, where he was later employed until its closing. More recently he has worked with the family in their business Eweniquely Yours Antiques and Primitives.
Ryan participated in Special Olympics bowling and swimming where he received many ribbons and medals. He showed sheep through 4-H with his uncle and along-side his cousins and sisters. He attended Camp Courageous for many years.
Ryan is loved by so many and returned that unconditional love to all. Everyone was “his friend”. He holds a very special place in all people’s hearts, especially his family’s. He gave them all so many amazing memories that they will forever cherish.
Some of Ryan’s favorite things were his family, friends, holidays, and parties. He also enjoyed working in his “office” and watching his many movies, reading books, and coloring fuzzy posters. There are so many people who have one of his colored masterpieces. According to Ryan he was the “art guy”. There was a good chance that any community member would see him around town going through his daily routine of riding the lawn mower, and later the three-wheeled bicycle, to go to the post office, the bank, the salon, the library, and then to Casey’s to get a snack.
Ryan is survived by his mother Penny (Karber) Tiffany (“best mom I ever got”) of Grand Junction; sister Carly Tiffany-Brown (“best sister ever”) and her husband Doug Brown (“my brother”) of Jefferson. Also by his niece Bailey Godwin (“my girl”), a student at Iowa State University in Ames; uncles Dr Steven Karber and wife Julie of Jefferson, Kriss Karber and wife Natalie of Peoria, AZ, and Greg Karber of Jefferson; cousins Dr. Nate Karber (Jill) and children Auden and Simone of Denver, CO, Jessica Karber of Des Moines, Gabe Karber (Allison) and children Isaac and Estella of Cottage Grove, MN, Melinda Teagarden (Kevin) and children Chloe and Abbey of Pella, Kim Karber and Kori (John) Woods of St. Helens, OR, Mandy (Larry) Karber and daughter Makayla Moore of Peoria, Kyle Karber of Boulder, CO, Brennan Karber, a student at Iowa State University in Ames, and Seth Karber (Hannah) of Jefferson. Preceding him in death were his father Timothy in 1987 and his sister Kyann in 1994. Also, both sets of grandparents, Dr. Melvin and Mildred Karber and Francis and Sybella Tiffany.
We now have the most amazing guardian angel watching over us. Ryan was an innocent, pure and beautiful soul who brightened so many people’s lives. We are all much better people for having known him. If only we could all have his infectious positivity, happiness, and loving heart, the world would truly be a better place.
