The Fountain community in Colorado is grieving the sudden loss of Michael David Ryan, a 45-year-old disabled Army veteran whose life ended in a tragic motorcycle accident on November 14, 2025.
As a devoted husband to Jennifer Ryan and loving father to two young children, Ryan embodied resilience and family centered values amid his challenges. His passing has prompted local support networks to rally around his family during this profound time of sorrow.
The incident occurred around 8:15 p.m. on Highway 16 near the Fountain Valley exit, where Ryans 2012 Harley Davidson veered off the roadway during a routine evening ride. Authorities from the El Paso County Sheriffs Office reported no other vehicles involved, citing possible road conditions as a factor under ongoing investigation. Ryan, an experienced rider, succumbed to injuries at the scene despite immediate emergency response efforts.
Born on February 8, 1980, in Colorado Springs to parents Thomas and Laura Ryan, Michael grew up in the rugged foothills of El Paso County. His childhood revolved around outdoor adventures and family camping trips that instilled a deep appreciation for natures quiet lessons. These early experiences forged his unyielding determination, evident even in later hardships.
Ryan graduated from Fountain Fort Carson High School in 1998, excelling in woodshop and wrestling where he earned varsity letters for three seasons. He later completed automotive training at Pikes Peak Community College, gaining certifications that blended his mechanical aptitude with practical expertise.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 19, Ryan served two tours in Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division, earning a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in 2004 that left him with a permanent mobility impairment. Post service, he worked 18 years as a logistics specialist at Fort Carson, mentoring junior staff while adapting to his disability through adaptive technologies.
In family life, Ryan cherished coaching his childrens soccer teams and weekend hikes along the Front Range trails, hobbies that kept his adventurous spirit alive. An avid grill master, he hosted neighborhood barbecues blending veteran stories with laughter filled evenings. Survived by wife Jennifer, sons Ethan and Noah, parents, and siblings, a memorial service is set for November 20 at Fountain Valley Chapel with donations encouraged to the Wounded Warrior Project.