Ryan Backer

On February 27, 2026, Ryan Backer, 45, of Fishers, passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a family and community who loved him deeply. Ryan grew up in Carmel, IN and was a 1999 graduate of Carmel High School. He briefly attended Butler university before making the commitment to serve his country in the United States Air Force. During his service, he was stationed overseas in England – an experience that helped to shape his perspective and the man he would become.

After returning home, Ryan lived in Florida with his mother before eventually returning back to Indiana. In 2008, he met the love of his life, Melissa. Ryan later followed Melissa to Chicago for six years before moving to Fishers in 2016, the place they would ultimately call home as they built their life together and raised their family.

For the past eight years, Ryan worked as a Line Crew manager at Tom Wood Aviation. He took great pride in his work and was known for his strong worth ethic, mechanical skills, and ability to solve just about any problem put in front of him.

Ryan will be remembered for his quick wit, infectious sense of humor, and his natural ability to fix nearly anything. He had a deep love for technology, music, and sports. Some of his favorite activities were attending concerts, fishing with his boys, and playing a round of golf with his friends. One of Ryan’s greatest joys was cooking for others, especially grilling – and he was well known among friends and neighbors for sharing meals made with his signature love of all things spicy.

Above all else, Ryan’s greatest love was his family, especially his two boys. He was a devoted husband and a proud, loving father whose presence, guidance and laughter will be profoundly missed.

Ryan is survived by his beloved wife, Melissa (Dyer) Backer, and his cherished sons, Hudson and Grayson. He is also survived by his mother, Sally (Barlow) Palmer; his sister, Jaime (Backer) Miller and her husband, Brent Miller; and many extended family members and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Stephen Backer; his paternal grandparents, Herbert and Shirley Backer; his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Marjorie Barlow; and his uncle, Charles “Chuck” Barlow; and his beloved dog, Kona.

A celebration of Ryan’s life will be held at Randall & Roberts Fishers Mortuary on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a short service immediately following, where family and friends will gather to honor, share memories, and celebrate a life so deeply loved.