Ryan Jesse DeGagné

The family of Ryan Jesse DeGagné, age 40 years, are saddened to announce his unexpected passing on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, while he was in Tanzania, Africa for work. 

Ryan was born on February 2, 1981 in Thunder Bay, Ontario and he grew up in Fort Frances, Ontario. He attended Huffman School, Robert Moore School and Fort Frances High School. When he was young, Ryan loved to swim, and swam with the Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim Team, breaking many club records. Ryan always loved spending time at his grandparents’ cabin on Rainy Lake where he learned to love the outdoors.

Ryan had many jobs as a young man, always in the outdoors; tree planting, tree thinning, claim-staking and drilling. For the past 11 years, he has worked for Boart Longyear Drilling and worked his way up to the position of Operations Coordinator of East Africa. 

On March 8, 2013, he married the love of his life Carly Duce and they had three beautiful children whom he loved with all his heart. Ryan enjoyed hunting, fishing, quading, and camping with his family. He loved the outdoors and could sit by a campfire all day and night. He was proud of his accomplishments and loved to show them off, especially his family.

Ryan will be sadly missed by his wife Carly of Thunder Bay and their children Nixon, Ezra and Zenon. He is also survived by his parents Cathy and Randy DeGagné of Fort Frances, brother Joshua DeGagné (Jayla), sisters; Sarah DeGagné (Justin), Christina Love (Darran), grandmothers Marjorie Smeeth and Pearl DeGagné, mother-in-law Pat Duce, sisters-in-law; Caitlin Duce (Joey), Kristin Duce (Tommy), Denise Duce (J.R.) and many nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles, and cousins. He is also survived by his best friend and colleague Jon Madigan and his family. Jon’s son Cairan was Ryan’s godson.

Ryan was pre-deceased by his grandfathers Bert Smeeth and Orielle DeGagné, auntie Judy Carter, and uncle Rob DeGagné. 

Ryan was loved by all the guys in Africa. They shut the rigs down Africa-wide to pray for him.
He was so well respected and loved and will be greatly missed by all.

Funeral services will be held at a later date. Due to COVID regulations the service will be by invitation only. Arrangements have been entrusted to Westfort Funeral Chapel, 420 Gore Street West at James.

Your life was a blessing, 
Your memory a treasure,
You are loved beyond words
And missed beyond measure.