Donald Bryan Custer

Donald "Bryan" Custer, age 60, of Ruskin, Florida passed away January 22, 2022 in Riverview, Florida. Bryan was born January 12, 1962 in Tampa, Florida to Don and Marian Custer. He attended school at East Bay High and Northwest Missouri State.

He married the love of his life, Marilyn (Manning), on July 3rd, 1982 and they shared a rare love for the next 40 years of his life.

Bryan retired from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in 2012 as a Homicide Detective after 20 years of service. He also worked in the trucking industry prior to and after his career in law enforcement.

He was currently employed with Auto Truck Transport, Mount Holly, North Carolina and a member of the IAMAW Mechanics Union Local 701.

Bryan is described as always having a big smile on his face and the nicest, most humble, hard working and caring person that you could ever meet. What they saw was the love he had for God shining through him. He was a man of strong faith who started his mornings reading his Bible. He was a member of MetroLife Church in Largo, Florida.

Bryan gave years of his time to coaching youth football and volunteering in the community. He was also an avid sailor which culminated in him founding Freedom Excursions which served by taking anyone military and/or their families out sailing for the day. But, he was most passionate about disabled veterans and those staying in James Haley VA Hospital.

If you knew Bryan you most likely knew the name of his wife, his children and his grandchildren (if you could remember them all) because he talked about them all the time. He lived his life for his family and nothing made him more happy than to be in their presence. Although his grandchildren called him Pops, so did all the extended family he adopted into his heart along the way.

In addition to his parents, Bryan is preceded in death by his infant son and his brother Chris.

He is survived by his loving wife; Marilyn, their 4 children, Matt (Heather), Ashlee, Cortney (Brian), Brad (Drina), and 14 grandchildren: Aubrey, Ava, Audri, Riley, Bryanna, Jayden, Logan, Vance, Mya, Madison, Kaleb, Gavin, Jett and Madysen. His dog, Cooper and granddogs Sheila, Sunnie, Miley and Bucky. (Yes, they were considered his granddogs).

Although he had many titles throughout his lifetime: Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Uncle, Friend, Coach, Detective, Captain, FTO, Mentor, Fred and Crash his favorite title by far was being called Pops.

Services will be held at Riverhills Church of God, 6310 East Sligh Avenue, Tampa, Florida, 33617, on Saturday, February 26, 2022 with Pastor Howard Bass officiating. Doors will open at 10:00 am with a Celebration of Life following at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers if you would rather make a donation in Bryan's honor, he was a huge supporter of Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HillsboroMemorial.com for the Custer family.