Ryan Weaver

Ryan Thomas Weaver, age 41, of Grand Rapids passed away peacefully at home on August 25, 2025 surrounded by friends and family.

Ryan was born in Ypsilanti, MI on June 5, 1984 to the late Thomas Weaver and Terry Mass (Daigle). Ryan was very proud of growing up in Saline, MI where he built the foundations for his deep love of distance running, a strong appreciation of music (favorites including Counting Crows and The Planets by Gustav Holst), and lifelong friendships.

After graduation he went on to Hope College to study Math and Spanish. It was here that his love of international travel and language developed when he was encouraged by his mother to participate in a study abroad trip to Querétaro, Mexico. The summer before his senior year of college, he embarked on his next big international adventure to Chile and Argentina where he began a relationship with his beloved wife, Leanna. Upon graduation from college, Ryan enjoyed opportunities to live in new places, spending time in Portland, OR and Nashville, TN before settling in Grand Rapids, MI. Living in Grand Rapids, Ryan enjoyed spending time at the beach, trail running (running from Grand Rapids to Rockford and back as his favorite way to celebrate his birthday), and spending time with his family and friends.

Ryan spent his career making Symfony, a web development framework, accessible and fun for others to learn. Those in that community will never forget seeing him pop out of a cake, get on stage in three layers of costumes, or give presentations in his stocking feet. In the Symfony community Ryan found not only meaningful work and a hobby he loved, but also incredible friendships. This passion gave him and Leanna the opportunity to travel the world together, and in each new city they would shake off the jet lag by going for a run and trying out the local language and food.

Ryan’s deepest love was his family. He was a devoted partner to Leanna, and he cherished sharing his passion for running and talent for telling jokes and stories with his beloved son, Beckett. There’s nothing he enjoyed more than sharing a big bowl of popcorn with Beckett and watching a movie on Friday nights. Every summer you could find him building sandcastles on the beach in Au Train and trying to beat his previous year’s time running along the North Country Trail. Those who knew Ryan will remember him for his dance moves, love of tortilla chips, silly sense of humor, his joyful approach to everything in life and skill at nicknames.

He is preceded in death by his parents Thomas Weaver and Terry Mass, and father-in-law Dennis Pelham. Ryan is warmly loved and missed by those who survive him: wife: Leanna Pelham; son: Beckett Weaver; sister: Erika Tepsick; mother-in-law: Carmen Pelham; stepfather: George Mass; brother-in-law: Ryan (LeAnn) Pelham; nieces: Allison Tepsick and Chloe Hudson; and nephew: Carter Hudson and countless friends from all over the world.

Celebration of Life services for Ryan will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at WildWood Family Farms at 7970 Snow Ave SE, Alto, MI 49302. (Families with children welcome)

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made in Ryan’s memory to his son’s educational and custodial funds through GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/24932a6a