01/07/2026
Reginald "Reg" Dale Rye
Reginald Dale Rye, 86, died peacefully in the early hours of January 6th with his beloved wife, Ruth Anne, by his side. Reg was born on June 24, 1939, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Clarence (Hank) and Marion (Carr) Rye. He grew up in Pickford, Michigan, along with his siblings Margaret, Dean and Sharyn. In high school, he was known to fall asleep in class and to dominate on the football field, track, and basketball court. According to Ruth Anne, his high school sweetheart, he once scored 31 points in a varsity basketball game while sick with the flu. After graduating high school, Reg put himself through college at Northern Michigan University, where he played football and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. He later went on to attend Central Michigan University, where he earned a Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling and a Specialist degree in Educational Administration.
Reg married Ruth Anne in August 1963 and they soon settled in Hemlock, Michigan. Reg’s career with Hemlock Public Schools spanned more than 35 years, where he worked as a teacher, counselor, coach, elementary school principal, director of community education, and finally, superintendent. Reg counted among his friends many of his fellow staff membersand had the good fortune of having many of them as neighbors. Ask anyone who graduated from Hemlock High School from the 60’s to the 90’s, and they’ll tell you that Mr. Rye led countless students and staff with patience, wisdom and a twinkle in his eye.
Following his retirement from Hemlock Public Schools, Reg worked in the School/University Partnerships Division at Saginaw Valley State University until 2016.
Family meant everything to Reg. He and Ruth Anne raised their four children, Brad, Amy, Liz and Kate, in a home where their interests were encouraged and their friends were always welcome. Each year, Reg would gas up his green and white Club Wagon van, faithfully record the mileage in a tiny notepad, and pack up the family (grandparents included) for an Easter road trip down south. He’d pop a Statler Brothers tape into the tape player and off they’d drive to far-flung destinations like Gatlinburg and Busch Gardens, pulling over at rest areas to enjoy the packed lunches that Ruth Anne had prepared. Faith was an ever-present tenet in the home, and the family attended the Hemlock United Methodist Church and then the Second Presbyterian Church in Saginaw.
It's safe to say that Reg’s most treasured and cherished title was Grandpa (aka Peepaw). He loved spending time with his grandkids, especially at their yearly Ryeunion gatherings in Pickford, where Reg had a flare for sharing family lore with the many relatives who attended. He also loved spending time with the grandkids during their Christmas trips to Florida. He was so proud of each and every one of them, and he lit up whenever they were around.
Reg enjoyed golfing, bowling, hunting, fishing, tinkering in the garage, and fixing anything that was broken. He was an avid sports fan, rooting for Michigan State and all the professional Detroit teams. He knew all about US History and just about any other subject you had a question about. He had both an educational center (the Hemlock Public Schools’ Reg Rye Learning Center) and a beer (Maple Grille’s Reggie Rye PA) named after him. Descended from immigrants from Northern Ireland, Reg was as quick with a hilarious one-liner as he was with quiet words of wisdom. He will live forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Reg was preceded in death by his parents Clarence (Hank) and Marion Rye; his parents-in-law, John and Velma (Gratz) Neuenschwander; and his three siblings and their spouses; Margaret and Al Lundquist, Dean and Willa Rye, and Sharyn and Rick Schwarz. Surviving are his wife, Ruth Anne Rye, of Midland; his children: Brad (Ellen) Rye of Webster, New York; Amy (Mark) Rye-Fisher of Midland; Liz (Paul) Cramer of Franklin, Tennessee; Kate (Gabe) Rye of Ypsilanti; and 12 grandchildren: Lauren (Chris) Rye-An, Nathan (Emily) Fisher, Emily (Ben) Weber, Lucas Cramer and his fiancée, Erin McGrath, Andy Rye, Joshua Cramer, Olivia Rye, Sam Cramer, Maxx Fisher, Mia Parra, Sophia Parra, and Delilah Rye. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends too numerous to mention.
Reg’s funeral will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 12:00 pm at Second Presbyterian Church, 2665 Midland Road in Saginaw. Pastor Ted McCulloch will officiate. Family and friends may gather at the W. L. Case and Company Funeral Directors, 201 N. Miller Rd in Saginaw on Friday, January 9, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Family visitation will continue at the church on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Private burial will take place at a later date in the Upper Peninsula. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial donations to the Reg Rye Learning Center at the Hemlock Public School District or the Pickford Historical Museum. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the funeral home, church, or through www.casefuneralhome.com.
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