ROCHESTER Bryan Richard Halling, 57, p***ed away peacefully at his residence Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. Bryan was born Jan. 11, 1954, in Rochester, to Donald and Louise (Schultz) Halling. He married Janet Brakke on Sept. 14, 1974. He was a 1972 graduate of Mayo High School, and a member of Evangel United Methodist Church. Bryan worked at IBM for 13 years and left to pursue his love of cars at Automotive Recyclers, from which he retired in September 2010. Bryan was also a member of the Minnesota Street Rod ***ociation and the Good Guys Automotive Club. He had a p***ion for cars whether he was building a car, going to swap meets or racing his stock car. Bryan was the proud owner of 158 cars in his lifetime. He also had a big heart for animals. Bryan's main love in life was his family. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren building towers, reading stories and giving tractor rides. Bryan was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. Bryan is survived by his loving wife, Jan of Rochester; daughters, Katie (Bart) Jones of Van Meter, Iowa, and Kristen (John) Tenley of Eden Prairie; grandchildren, Gabriel Robert Jones and Noah Bryan Jones, and he was anxiously awaiting the arrival of another grandchild, Baby Tenley, due in the spring; brother, James (Sharon) Halling; nephew, Chris Halling; his beloved cat, Jada; and a host of other family and friends.
I met Byan by a accident, I was 17 and my dad let me take his 63 Nova out for my first drive alone. He flagged me down as i was driving to my friends house to tell me how nice my car was. Not soon later i was buying parts from him at the junk yard he worked at. Listening to his advise and buying what i needed to build my first toy. Later I worked at the same junkyard with him and I swear he taught me something new every day! He was an avid swapmeet goer and a collector of everything! If you needed a part you got hold of him first because he probably had it! I looked up to Bryan he was a hero to me and a great friend. His p***ion and love for friends, family and cars drove people to be better a build better! I have many parts of his on my cars and am proud to say " Built with genuine Byan Halling parts!" If it wasnt for him my drive and motivation to build a Model A would have been just a phase but he opened me to a new world and I thank him. I Saved my rear fenders for his Model A and now I will hang them in the shop to honor a Amazing Individial You will always be remembered and I will never forget you. You will always be with me. You are a great friend! Sean
God Bless Bryan Halling. Great you had a chance to have someone in your life like that. Keep your memories of him strong.
Everyone should be as luck as i! He was a wealth of knowledge and he had enough goodies to put shame to many a swapmeet!
Sorry for the familys and your loss.Didnt know him but seems like i realy missed meeting a cool guy.......................YG
Sorry to hear about your loss... I kind of freaked out when I saw this post, my name came from a different Bryan Halling, same spelling...
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