Bryan Russell Whitney

Bryan passed away on January 19, 2026. He was born on April 6, 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Kurt Bryon and Susan Amelia Whitney. The family lived in Runnells, Iowa until Bryan was 4 years old, then they moved to Ovideo, Florida, where he spent his childhood and formative years.

As a boy, Bryan enjoyed soccer, skateboarding, basketball, playing the trumpet, rollerblading, and street hockey. Soccer was his favorite sport, and he played for ten years, through his freshman year while attending Oviedo High School. Bryan and his family attended Calvary Assembly of God, where he gave his heart to the Lord at the age of 6.

Bryan earned his high school GED from Seminole County Community College in May 2003. Later that year, he graduated from Teen Challenge in the fall of 2003, where he rededicated his life to the Lord. He then began working as an apprentice glazier in Orlando. In June 2016, Bryan moved to Des Moines, where he continued his career in the glazing trade and became a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Glaziers Local 1075.

Bryan was a skilled glazier with a keen eye for detail. He was artistic, loved music, played the violin and was deeply sensitive to others, with a caring and generous heart for his friends. He also shared a special bond with his three beloved cats—Nala, Gussie, and Skittles—who adored him as much as he adored them. He especially enjoyed spending time with them in his backyard, where they kept one another company.

Bryan found joy in landscaping, gardening, flowers, and being outdoors. He cherished nature walks and quiet strolls along riverfronts or lakeshores, often with his mom. More often than not, a small pebble, pinecone, or twig would catch his eye. He would take it home and save it in a memory vase—a simple but meaningful keepsake of a shared moment.

He loved watching hummingbirds and devotedly cared for several feeders in his yard, faithfully filling them with homemade nectar.

One of Bryan’s creative pastimes was making bead necklaces, which he often gave to friends. If you received one, it was a special handmade gift—an expression of his creativity and thoughtfulness.

Bryan deeply loved his nieces and nephew—Amelia, Hannah, Clara, and Hunter—and delighted in spoiling them with birthday and Christmas gifts. They knew him for his heart of gold and will always remember the love he gave so freely.

In addition to his parents, Bryan is survived by his sister, Trisha (Nathan) Ratliff; and his nieces and nephew; Amelia, Hannah, Hunter, and Clara Ratliff, all of Harker Heights, Texas.

Those who wish to honor Bryan’s memory may make a gift in his name to Teen Challenge Southeast Region, 3706 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford, FL 32773 or go online at Teen Challenge.