Daniel M. Rylko

DANIEL M. RYLKOAge 18, of rural Plato Center, died suddenly, Tuesday morning, January 23, 2007, when his car went out of control on an icy patch of snow. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born February 26, 1988, in St. Charles, IL, the son of Martin Gerald and Betty Joan (Ebert) Rylko. From the beginning, Danny was a "tinker-toddler", fascinated by how things worked and compelled to dis-assemble anything he could get his hands on! At age four, he latched on to the automatic garage door handle and rode it to the top! He removed the training wheels from his first bike and, at age eight, drove the truck through the field to pick up his weary (and stunned!) dad.A true "MacGyver" at heart, Danny made spare parts out of whatever he found laying around. As he got older, he learned that other people were happy to give him their "spare parts", and he gradually took over the family garage with lawn mowers, snow blowers and mechanical cast-offs whose purpose only Danny could imagine. But life wasn’t just "all about Dan". His mechanical mind was guided by a kind and generous spirit that said "yes", to fixing things for family and friends, shoveling for elderly neighbors, feeding their horses and joining his church on a mission trip to Appalachia. Dan collected scale model tractors, especially Oliver and Minneapolis Moline models. He was happiest, though, when he was working on a project. He would spend hours totally absorbed in "his" garage but when he emerged from that cocoon, he would chatter endlessly in "gear-head-language to anyone who would listen. It was a foreign dialect and annoying to his brother (a favorite target) but the "Sound of Music" to others. Dan also collected miniature scale tractors.Apart from things mechanical, Danny loved to go fishing with his dad and "Gramps". It didn’t matter where they fished or for what but it was definitely "quality time" that bonded hearts." Just last year, in 4-H competition, Dan took grand champion and reserve grand champion with his prize turkeys. His one hour of sports fame, however, came in Little League Championship game when he belted two home runs with a team that might have best been described as the "Bad News Bears." His "Gramps" Ebert, who rarely missed a game, loved to tell about that one! Dan graduated from Burlington Central High School with the class of 2006 and especially enjoyed his work at Bob-Jo Speedway in the cycle shop. He was just getting started on his dream-car, a 1983 BMW, which was a gift from his cousin Scott, who was as excited as Dan himself. Dan will be remembered for a thousand wonderful and wacky things but especially for his famously in-toned quote from Cone Heads, "Zeldar!"; the infamous (and newly revealed) "white-latex-paint-incident" with his father’s red truck and the time he wore his motor cycle helmet while driving his truck. At the end of the day, an exhausted Dan would often collapse in his work clothes and fall fast asleep next to his dog, Oscar. The two would snore through the night like dueling banjo’s and Danny’s wide-awake parents would know that everything was all right. That sound and many others may be gone, but when the thunder rolls, everyone will know its just Danny, revving up the engine to give his "Gramps" Ebert a three-wheeler ride. When broken things just start running again, everyone will know it was just "MacGyver Dan" lending a hand.SURVIVORS In addition to his parents, Martin and Betty Rylko, Dan leaves:His brother, "Andy" and sister Bettina (Eric Siring) Rylko of Seattle Washington and her two children, Dylon and Ellyana.His paternal grandfather, Mitchell G. Rylko of Merrill,WI.Paternal aunts and uncles: Mitchell G. Rylko Jr. of Hampshire, IL ,Maryann Stroinski of Parrish, WI, Mike Rylko of Buyck, MN andMarvin (Amy) Rylko of Genoa, IL;Maternal aunts and uncles:Dan (Mary) Ebert of Kaneville, IL ,Jerry (Debbie) Ebert of Lake In The Hills, IL andMike Ebert of Aurora, IL;As well as many cousins, a family of friends, his dog Oscar and countless engines that will miss his special touch. PRECEDED He is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Helen Rylko andmaternal grandparents, Lyle and Marvel EbertMEMORIAL A memorial fund to remember Dan has been established in his name. Memorials checks may be made to the Daniel Rylko Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information by phone, call 1-800-8-CONLEY.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 26, 2007 from 3-8 pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn and Saturday morning from 9:30 - 10:15 at the Burlington United Methodist Church, corner of Center and South Streets, with a service to celebrate his live at 10:30am. The Rev. Brian William will officiate.

Interment will follow at Baker Cemetery, Plato Twp.