John Murray Ryckman
July 26, 1957~ March 24, 2012
John was born and raised in Creston, BC, the fifth child of Jack and Phyllis Ryckman. His siblings are Cathy, Val, Doug, Gloria, Cindy and Art. Growing up he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family, and inherited his father’s love of gardening. Through his teen years, John struggled with fear and depression and at 24 when he hit bottom, he asked God to take his life. God did take it– He took John as His own child, making him new in Christ. Instead of death, John found life.
John and Diane met in May 1983, and the following year were married. Through John’s job with highway construction they moved throughout BC. Rachel was born in Chilliwack, Jennifer in Prince George, John Daniel in Ladysmith, and Timothy in Campbell River. In 1993 John quit his job and moved his family back to Creston, where Sarah, Andrew, Benjamin and Kaitlin joined their family.
In the fall of 1997, John had an accident that would forever change his life. He referred to this accident as his “wake-up call” and the LORD used it to bring into sharper focus His relationship with John and John’s need to depend on Him. From this time forward, in John’s words, pain became his constant companion.
Throughout his life, John’s love for the outdoors, his love for his neighbour, his love for his family, and his love for his LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ was evident to all who knew him. His life was characterized by an ever growing dependency on God and a deep desire to live as God would have him live.
On March 24, 2012, while working in the outdoors that he loved, while taking care of the family that he loved, John was suddenly swept from this life into the presence of the Saviour whom he loved. He is now free from pain, and though we, his family, miss him so much, we know it is only for a time.
We will see him again.
In lieu of flowers, a monetary tribute can be made to the John Ryckman Memorial Fund established by the family through Creston Baptist Church with the aim of helping support those with a heart to "go into all the world and make disciples of all nations..."