CHICAGO, IL AND FORT KENT, ME - Donald J. Bryla, age 71, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2021 at a Massachusetts health care facility.  Don was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 14, 1950, to Adolph and Joan Surma Bryla.

Don is survived by his devoted wife of 32 years, Dawn (Dow); his daughter Amy of Chicago, his son Sean and wife Kathryn, and granddaughter Evelyn of Stafford, Virginia; his brother Ken and Chris Bryla of Lemont, Illinois.; his in-laws Doug and Lauren Dow of Pittsfield, Amy and Bert Levesque of Fort Kent, Chris and Vicky Dow of Topsham, Melanie Dow of New York, Smitty and Destiny Dow of Madison. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews: Rachel and John Ziegler, Elyse Bryla, Jon and Sam Dow, Nicholas and Drew Dow, Drew and Alex Levesque, and great nephews, Parker and Evan Bryla. Don also had many good friends.  Don was predeceased by his parents and his mother-in-law, Joan Dow.

Don enjoyed riding motorcycles and toured the country on the winding back roads before he married. Both he and Dawn belonged to the Chicago Chapter of BMW Owners and spent time enjoying the club's year-round activities.

Don was a firefighter in Palos Heights, Illinois before he joined the Chicago Fire Department as a paramedic in the late 1970s. He rose through the ranks and retired as an Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic over 30 years later. He also enjoyed time working on the electrical systems of Chicago Transit Authority railcars through GE.

In retirement, Don enjoyed a slower pace and spent summers in Fort Kent, Maine and at the peaceful Wallagrass Lake.

Memorial services will be held in Chicago in September of 2021, and in Fort Kent in the summer of 2022. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lajoie-Daigle Funeral Home.