Bryan Joseph Kavalecz

STOW - Bryan Joseph Kavalecz, age 51, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home on Nov. 20, 2025, after a courageous 27-month battle with stage four colon cancer.

He was born on Oct. 1, 1974, in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, son of the most loving parents, the late William “Bill” and Patricia Kavalecz, who he now joins for eternity.

In a world that can be so cruel, Bryan was the epitome of joy, kindness, and celebration. He was always able to lift people’s spirits and soften a hardened soul, one of his most beautiful gifts. Bryan also had the unique ability to make everyone he encountered laugh, while also showcasing his own affectionate belly laughs. He had the most infectious smile, and to know Bryan was to love Bryan. Bryan never met a stranger he couldn’t talk to for hours and become friends with. Bryan also never lost his lifelong creativity, which he expressed through cooking, gardening, and some of the best Halloween costumes for his sons. In his early years, Bryan was best defined as the life of the party for every room he stepped foot in, including his time at Willoughby South High School, the University of Akron and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Throughout the final years of his life, Bryan displayed how strong of a fighter he was, battling through adversity for his family to the end through his faith.

Above everything, Bryan prided himself as a family man, loving husband and devoted father. He was the biggest supporter of his son’s athletic journeys, dreams and ambitions. He will go down as their biggest hero.

We ask that you remember his life for the energy and joy he emanated and the profound impact he had on everyone he encountered.

Bryan was also preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Donna, and his uncle, Lance.

He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years Michele, who will miss him wholeheartedly until she is with him again; his two sons, which were his pride and joy and who will continue to carry on his legacy and make him proud, Tyler and Spencer; brother, Pete (Natalie); sister, Janelle (Pete); uncle, Denny (Linda); aunt, Chris (Jim); father-in-law, Mike (Christine); brother-in-law, Mike; nieces, Jane, and Paige; nephew, Sam, and many loving cousins.

Additionally, he is survived by extended family members, including but not limited to his aunts, Barb (Steve), Janis (Dick); cousins, Louanne (Rich) and Jennifer (Rob), and many other extremely special and loving family members in Bryan’s heart, along with his four lifelong best friends Jeff, Tom, Dan and Jon, and Maverick and Jake, who fulfilled the role of man’s best friends as beloved dogs.

Also, a special and heartfelt thank you to his longtime doctor, Terry Wagner and his staff, who have become more like family, all the special ladies at the Giant Eagle pharmacy on Norton Road in Stow, the special people at Wiggle Butt Inn, his FedEx boss, Lisa Shimek, loving and caring neighbors, and Father Jeremy Merzweiler, as well as all of the KavStrong supporters who were in Bryan’s corner from day one of his courageous fight.

Friends are invited to Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow 44224, for visitation on Monday, November 24, 2025, from 4 to 7 PM. 

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 3179 Kent Road, Stow 44224, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 11 AM.

Burial Silver Springs Cemetery.