Tyler Joseph Droeger, 27, made his transition into heaven on Wednesday, September 29, while bicycling through Utah on a trip of a lifetime.
Tyler was born in Green Bay, WI to Stewart Droeger III and Jill Diedrich. At a young age, he moved to Manawa. Following high school, he ventured to the Southwest in search of wide-open spaces and the wonders that he could find. Tyler experienced more in his 27 years than most people do in an entire lifetime. He worked at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, led and mentored a crew with Wisconsin Conservation Corps, created and directed a mountain bike program at a residential summer camp during which he was loved by all the campers. He was most proud of the summer he worked as a coach with FLYRS (Flagstaff youth riders), helping kids develop a love for biking and promoting physical well-being. Tyler was in his element doing anything physical, never turned down an opportunity to try something new, and the more challenging it was the better he liked it.
Tyler was a student of poetry, mostly Dr. Seuss. The life lessons gleaned from these words created a positive soul that would not be brought down. Any setback was only seen as “temporary Hang ups and Bang ups”. He loved to share his talent for music. Several tunes from Orpheus’s Battle of the Bands grace his family’s playlist. On his final trip he rode with an acoustic guitar, he played for wildlife, the trees, and anyone lucky enough to hear him play.
He was currently on his final leg of an almost 4,000-mile bicycle ride around the Southwest. He left Colorado and rode the Great Divide trail into New Mexico, where he picked up Route 66. This took him across Arizona and California all the way to the coast, where he then ventured up the Pacific Coast highway to San Francisco. Heading east he cruised through Nevada and was halfway through Utah when his journey sadly ended.
His ride started as a platform to raise awareness of the food crisis in the Navajo nation and to raise money to help young riders gain access to his love of mountain biking. Over his two months of travel, his eyes were opened to other inequities. His followers read about the struggles of the trip but also witnessed his spiritual transition. He wrote less about the pain and more of his connection with the world and the energy around him. “Emotions feel more real and the real world feels more fake than ever”.
He wrote as much about the people as he did about his physical journey. If it was possible for him to be any more selfless, this experience created a true and pure appreciation for mankind. One of his posts asked everyone “Be kind to the strangers you meet. No matter their situation, it could easily be you in those shoes.” Tyler was a funny, giving, and adventurous soul who lived life on his own terms. He made friends wherever he went and was loved by so many people. His motto really was, there are no strangers, just friends you have not met yet. The world was left in a better state because Tyler embraced his connection to the world and his fellow man. Tyler will live on in the many people he touched, met, loved, laughed with, and made an impact on.
Now Tyler’s escaped all that waiting and staying and he’s found the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.
Tyler joins his grandfather Stewart Droeger Jr.; grandmother Maria Droeger; papa Marvin Rogers; and uncle Jim Rogers.
Tyler is going to be dearly missed by his mom and step-dad Jill (Wayne) Diedrich; dad and step-mom Stewart III (Nichole) Droeger; brother Stewart Droeger IV; as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins including Kevin (Julie) Rogers; Wes and Andrew Rogers; Jennifer (Bob) Whitefield; Rachael (Adam) Prichard; Bryce Whitefield; Lisa Rogers; Eric (Eden) Rogers; Jacob Rogers. Terry (Jenny) Droeger; Sue (Dave) Keller; Trevor Keller; David Droeger; Jessica Droeger; Abigail and Merideth Droeger; Alan (girlfriend Teri Racine) Droeger; Candy Droeger; Alan Droeger Jr.; Mckenzie and Marissa (Ryan) Rotter, Michael Murray; Grandmother Betty Rogers; Step-grandparents Raymond and Annette Parker and more friends than could ever be listed.
In lieu of flowers, please help Tyler finish what he started by making a donation to his GoFundMe to raise money for the FLYRS, a 501(c)(3) that fosters personal group and an active lifestyle through mountain biking. https://www.gofundme.com/f/willbike4food
A Celebration of Tyler’s Life will be announced at a future date.
Heads high, Hearts open!