Tammy Lynn Bryan

KEWANEE – Tammy Lynn Bryan, 46, of Kewanee, died at 3:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at her home.

She was born November 6, 1972 in Kewanee, IL, the daughter of Wayne and Bonnie Bryan. She attended Kewanee Schools and was a huge supporter of all the local sporting events. She especially enjoyed cheering on the Cross-Country teams and the girls’ basketball teams.

Tammy looked forward to attending Abilities Plus every day and enjoyed it so much she often asked if she could go to work on the weekends too. She was named Employee of the Month and had been a cheerleader for their sports team the Cougars. She made many special friends at Abilities Plus and would share stories about daily events as soon as she got home each day.

Tammy had a love for running that she shared with her parents. Every weekend they would be signed up for local 5K’s,10K’s, and even Half Marathons. Both Bonnie and Wayne took turns pushing Tammy’s wheelchair in races but often other runners asked if they could have the honor. At one Steamboat Classic Tammy was pushed by Olympic Champion Constantina Tomescu from Romania. That was an amazing day for Tammy because the faster she could go in her chair the more she liked it. At another Classic she was escorted by the Peoria Fire Department and when they discovered she was racing in just a regular wheelchair they raised funds to purchase her a specially built chair from the Adaptive Star company. And because of Tammy’s inspiration races for special needs children and adults were added to Steamboat Days.

She even traveled as far as North Dakota with her family and friends to take part in the Fargo Rock and Roll Marathon. In the running community Tammy touched each and every person she met in such a special way and they became her family too. From the Quad Cities Distance Classic and the Peoria Steamboat Classic and everything in between she made friends and inspired people to do their best, but more importantly she reminded people to have fun.

Tammy also loved and respected the Kewanee Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Department. A sighting of a police car made her day. Every night she would be glued to the television watching one of her very favorite shows, COPS.

Tammy was preceded death by her mother, Bonnie. She is survived by her father, Wayne Bryan, Uncle Bill (Judy) Bryan and cousins; Dan (Amy) Bryan, Jamie (Tami) Bryan, and Rebecca (Kenny) Koerner, and the many friends she made over the years. Tammy also had a special love for her dog, Jacob.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 5 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Deacon Martin VanMeltebeck will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in rural Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to Abilities Plus.

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