Ryan Jilka
November 29, 1972 ~ May 29, 2023
Ryan Jilka, 50, Assistant Superintendent for Goddard USD 265, died Monday, May 29, 2023. Memorial Service will be at 1:00 pm, Monday, June 5, 2023, at Central Community Church.
Survived by his wife, Kerrie Jilka; father, Robert (Linda) Jilka of St. George, UT; mother, Ernestine (Bob) Allen of Salina, KS; daughters, Natalie Jilka, Morgan Jilka, and McKenna Jilka all of Wichita, KS; brothers, Rob (Tammy) Jilka of Bennington, KS, Chris (Mindy) Allen of McPherson, KS; sister, Angie Allen of Brooklyn, NY; step-sister, Stacey (Dave) Turis of Los Alamitos, CA; step-brother, Chris (Holly) Fundaburk of Ewa Beach, HI; several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with: Goddard Education Foundation, 201 S. Main St., Goddard, KS 67052.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - West Chapel. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com
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Ernestine and family, so very sorry to hear of Ryan’s passing.. remembering lots of memories of he and Mike wrestling…good times and they stayed friends all these years! Sending hugs and prayers to all of you! God be with you thru this very sad time! Carol & Dave Bammes and family
What a wonderful man the little boy I first knew grew up to be!! He was always kind to my son who called him friend. I hope they are catching up in heaven. Dimples, you raised a great man and God knows he is good. Please know I am here for you if you need anything.
My sincere and deepest sympathy to the Jilka family. I worked with Ryan many times while I was on the Booster Club and he was always a fun, down to earth good guy! The kids always liked him and you could tell he was right were he belonged being around them. He will be missed sorely in the community and in the schools. RIP Ryan.
So sorry for your loss. I enjoyed working with Ryan. He was a great teacher, administrator, and friend. Ryan made a difference in all the students lives he touched. He will be greatly missed. RIP
I have had the privilege of knowing Ryan for over 10 years where we worked closely through KAMSA, the Kansas Middle School Administrators Association. After the disbandment of this organization, we still kept in contact. Ryan is one of those people that leaves a positive mark, where he may be. I was so thankful the service was live streamed as I am in Phoenix. Being able to celebrate his life at his service was important to me. My sincere condolences to the family. He truly will be missed!
Ryan was my first principal. His door was always open and his approach was always to listen first. Countless “Jilka-isms” became fundamental beliefs in my educational philosophy. The world lost a great one!
Ryan was and will forever be my favorite uncle (sorry uncle Chris). Throughout my 17 years of living I have never a met a guy that has been as close to perfect as Ryan. Not only was he the person I looked up to most and the person I leaned on for a lot of advice but he was the best dad, brother, son,and lastly uncle. Uncle Ryan thank you for being my dads best friend for the last 50 years and thank you for showing me what it genuinely looks like to be the best version of yourself. The life lessons you have taught me will stick with me forever and I promise to never let the memories slip away.Love you always
Ryan is one of the best administrators that my daughter every had. When Covid hit, Ryan came to our house and dropped off school needs for her to finish school from home. While there, he asked how we were all doing. I believe Ryan truly cared for the kids and the families.
One of my last emails to him was congratulating his daughter on her graduation at Fort Hays (we were there for a family member graduation). Ryan wrote back and was very appreciative and also congratulated my family member. I will personally miss Ryan, as we have had numerous talks about not only school but our upbringings. My condolences to his family and friends.
Ryan was the first principal I ever worked for as a sub teacher who personally offered me a job as a full-time teacher. He walked down to my classroom of whom I was subbing for, explained how effective he heard I had previously been with the kids and complimented on that as well as my punctuality. He inquired about my educational background and mentioned that he was transitioning to an HR administrative position the following year and if I go and get my degrees and such he’ll offer me job. I told him I will definitely try to do that. After he left the room, I was so emotional off and on all day because the principal saw enough potential in me to extend a job offer when I didn’t even think I was good enough to be a sub. He was very personable, caring and thoughtful. He will truly be missed.
Ryan jilka was the most loving, caring, and best person I ever knew. He accepted me into his school after finding out I wrestled. I would see him at all my tournaments to cheer me on. When I was at my lowest I would go to him and he would give me the best advice I could get, he truly was the most wonderful perfect person I could ever ask for to be in my life. R.I.P. Thank you for everything you ever did for me even when you could have just walked away and said forget abt it. You truly are my favorite person I ever had. It broke my heart when I heard you passed and I will be a STATE CHAMP for you it’s my sophomore year a high school at Goddard and the only reason I’m where I am today is because of you. Thank you for everything you have done. Not just for me but for everyone in the world. I love you Ryan.
– Kaston McElwain