Rylan Schadegg

In Celebration of Rylan Schadegg
April 18, 1998 - September 7, 2025
Rylan departed this world on Sunday, September 7th, doing what filled his soul with pure pleasure—racing up mountains and soaring back down them with the freedom of flight. True to his life motto of "live wild and die free," he embraced life with passion and boundless adventure.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Rylan was the second of six children blessed to John and Jill Schadegg. In 2005, the family moved to Logan, Utah. At the age of 12, Rylan made the most important decision of his life, to follow Jesus and be baptized into Christ. After graduating from the Schadegg Academy homeschool in 2016, he fearlessly charted his own course—pursuing business studies online while mastering the craft of welding at Bridgerland Applied Technology College and bringing his energy to a local bike shop.
At just 17, Rylan discovered his call to the mountains, transitioning from a life full of soccer to competing with a professional mountain biking team in Utah. Simultaneously, his heart for service soon led him down a new path to fulfill a childhood dream…firefighting. He then inspired his older brother, Silas, to join him in this noble pursuit. Together, they trained at South Davis Fire, turning brotherhood into a shared mission of protecting others.
Even while serving as a firefighter, Rylan's competitive spirit blazed on. He threw himself into obstacle course racing (OCR), then expanded his horizons into Deka and Hyrox competitions, always seeking new mountains to climb—both literal and metaphorical.
However, Rylan's greatest victories weren't measured in race times or medals. His true championship was in lifting others up. Whether encouraging family with perfectly-timed phone calls, leading Bible studies wherever life took him, offering prayers for both dear friends and strangers, or simply radiating Christ's light to everyone he encountered, Rylan understood that the fastest way to live was to slow down for what truly mattered.
Speed was his language of joy—racing, flying, running, biking, skiing—anything that let him feel the wind on his face. Yet he always downshifted to mentor others, whether coaching his siblings, parents, friends, or athletes he'd just met. He would run alongside them, bike beside them, and cheer from the sidelines, proving that a true champions’ character shines brightly on and off the race course.
In a world that rushes past, Rylan mastered the art of taking time—time for phone calls that changed someone's day, visits that became treasured memories, and moments of listening that healed broken hearts.
Rylan embodied a rare combination of strength and gentleness: humble yet driven, adventurous yet patient, competitive yet compassionate. His faith in Christ wasn't just something he believed—it was the very engine that powered his extraordinary love for others and his relentless pursuit of becoming the person God created him to be.
He leaves behind a legacy written not just in race times or achievements, but in transformed hearts and inspired lives. As a son who made his parents proud, a brother who led by example, and a friend whose smile could light up the darkest day, Rylan showed us all what it means to live with everything you have.
His faith wasn't compartmentalized—it blazed through his training, illuminated his social media, and transformed every daily interaction into an opportunity to share hope.
May Rylan's unwavering love for Jesus and his fearless example remind us all to chase after what matters most, to live with wild abandon for the things that count, and to run our own race with the same passionate heart that defined his extraordinary journey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating directly to the Schadegg family where donations will directly benefit a children's non-profit organization.