Ryan Edward Balko

Munising / Holland

Ryan Edward Balko, age 26, died unexpectedly at his home in Holland Township on Monday evening, March 14, 2016.  He was born in Munising, Michigan on April 6, 1989 to Ed and Rosemary (Nelc) Balko.  Ryan graduated from West Ottawa High School in Holland in 2007.  He was a licensed diesel mechanic, and worked as a truck driver and mechanic at Specialized Demolition and at A-1 Small Engines Repair.  Away from work Ryan still enjoyed working on his motorcycle and taking trips to the Martin Drag Way for Top Fuel Races.  He was a talented woodworker and enjoyed working in the garden, reading Westerns, or being with his dog Starsky.  Ryan also enjoyed being outdoors, adventures with his friend boating on Lake Michigan or panning for gold with his dad in Michigan rivers.

He is survived by his parents – Ed and Rosemary Balko of Holland; brother – Will (Megan) Balko of Munising; sister – Natasha (Jamin) Wonch of Sands Township; nieces and nephews – Siera, Dimetri, Quinley, and David; aunts and uncles – Frank and Jodi Nelc of Neenah, WI, Diane Nelc of Tumwater, WA, Sandy and Kevin Foy of Fort Walton Beach, FL and Dennis Kasubowski of Ishpeming, MI; and numerous cousins. Ryan was preceded in death by his grandparents – William and Ruth Balko and Jenny and Frank Nelc; uncle – William “Bunky” Balko; aunt – Ruth Kasubowski; and cousin Victoria Frank.

Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Friday, March 18, 2016.  Visitation will be from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m.  Ryan’s funeral service will be held in the funeral home’s chapel at 6:30 p.m.

*** Interment will be at the Munising Township Cemetery in Wetmore on Monday, May 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.***