Ryan R. Hutzel

Ryan Richard Hutzel, 48, of Lincoln, NE, passed away on April 27, 2024, dying in his sleep. He was born on April 25, 1976, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Ry was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. It was repaired at age 3 in Iowa with open heart surgery. He developed a blood infection unrelated to this in 2009 that affected his heart and kidneys and almost took his life. He, again, had open heart surgery to repair heart defects in 2017. He had been given a limited life expectancy because of this congenital heart defect and outlived that limit by more than 15 years.

Ryan was born in Iowa and moved to Scottsbluff, NE at age 4 and later attended Longfellow School and established friendships he had his whole life. He graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1994 and furthered his education at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Ry was not able to play contact sports because of his heart but one of the highlights of his life was being a student manager for the NU Husker football team and getting to travel and be involved with the team during the best of NU football 1995 - 1998.

Ry met Tiffany Sand his sophomore year of UNL at campus college group for First Free Church and started dating. He married Tiffany Sand on August 2, 1997 and they had 2 sons together. They later divorced but continued to co-parent, along with Dan Duren, and try to do what was best for their boys.

Ryan worked as a Small Business Sales Representative at Allo Communications since 2016, most recently, where he was known for his excellent working relationships with his clients. Throughout his career he also worked at UPS, Windstream, AT&T, and as an insurance and financial advisor.

Ryan was involved in Harbor Ministries & Rogue Journey, YMCA, ABA, Husker Nation, and attended LIBA and Rotary meetings through the years.

Ryan was a dedicated father who found immense joy in spending time with his sons, especially by attending their sporting events. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of going to a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium with his boys and parents this past year. Ryan was actively involved in his boys’ youth baseball, football, and basketball communities and loved being with his kids’ team families. He enjoyed playing golf and watching Husker football, Denver Broncos football, and Yankee baseball and taking Peyton and Grant to their favorite players' games. He would talk your ear off about all things sports and give commentary and coaching of all his teams and his boys' teams, if you let him. Ry had a birthday this past week on April 25. He spent his last days being with his parents, niece and sons going to NU baseball games, playing golf, card and board games and enjoying meals together.

Ryan was the cherished father of Peyton and Grant Hutzel (sons of Tiffany Duren and Dan Duren - step father). He is survived by his parents, Gary and Chary Hutzel; his sister, Alica Hutzel Long and significant other Ryan Ebbers; his niece and nephew, Kenzie and Zack Long; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews and an abundance of life-long friends and many of his boys’ teammates, friends and their families.

A service in memory of Ryan will be held at Lincoln Berean Church on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 1:00 pm. The visitation will take place at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday May 2, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 pm. The family asks that funeral attire be comfortable, casual and athletic (Ry style). Please wear Husker, Yankee, Broncos, or LSW, LSE or ABA jerseys/clothes. If you wear other sports team attire, Ry will surely be heckling you for it.

Memorial donations in his honor will be directed towards Peyton and Grant Hutzel. The family requests contributions to be made to support his children. Ryan will be deeply missed by all who knew him.