Riley King

Riley Nicholaus King, 20—First of His Name, Rider of Dragons, Bender of Wind, and Master Wand Maker—disapparated from this world on March 23, 2026, at County Hwy 41N and Sunrise Lane in Little River, Wisconsin, leaving those who loved him standing in the quiet that follows pure magic. 

Riley lived as though the worlds of Harry Potter, Avatar, and Pokémon were not merely fiction, but actual blueprints. He believed—truly believed—that the wind could be moved if only you spoke to it in the right way. At times, he called himself Father Christmas, at others Mother Earth, holding fast to the idea that justice and balance were not just ideals, but responsibilities. In his universe, he was both protector and creator—a modern-day Robin Hood with a vape in one hand, snacks in the other, and a plan already forming in his brilliant, enigmatic mind. 

He was unapologetically himself—suave without effort, mischievous without malice, and endlessly creative. A natural joker who loved to laugh, Riley lit up rooms not by demanding attention, but by becoming impossible to not gravitate to. His brightness went beyond intellect—it was a spark, an energy, a force. 

Riley was an artist in every sense of the word. A painter who saw color where others saw emptiness. A poet who gave shape to feeling. A musician who found rhythm not only in drums, but in life itself. Riley carried a deep love for Greek mythology, perhaps because he understood that humanity has always needed stories to make sense of souls like his. He was gentle and kind, especially toward those who needed it most. He was drawn to archery and, like so many things he touched, became skilled quickly. His compassion revealed itself in quiet, meaningful ways—teaching disabled adults archery and fishing with patience and joy. He had a natural gift for Native drumming and was honored to sit in two drumming circles, where his spirit found a rhythm older than words. He also held a deep and growing love for learning about his Menominee heritage, taking pride in his roots and seeking to understand the traditions, stories, and spirit that were so much part of him. Honoring his ancestors, his spirit name is Maeskawanantw (ma-squaw- nani) "Red-tailed Eagle"; its meaning... messenger, protector, a symbol of power, of wisdom and connection to the spiritual realm, which embodies every fiber of Riley's essence. 

Riley loved the outdoors—campfires, water, and especially Michigan, which felt like home to him in a way few places ever did. His mind was strategic, curious, and fearless. He taught himself chess and went on to defeat accomplished players. He questioned everything—even systems most would never dare to challenge—and sometimes, incredibly, he figured them out. 

He possessed an intelligence that could not be contained by classrooms. An engineer, an entrepreneur, and a visionary, Riley saw opportunities where others saw impossibilities. He was bold, brilliant, and unafraid to explore beyond the boundaries of what was expected. 

To Riley, money was never something to keep—it was something to give. He gave freely, sometimes to a fault, but always from a place of love. He would say it was his grandmother’s influence—she taught him generosity, and he carried that lesson wholeheartedly. 

Riley was many things—a dreamer, a drummer, a dragon rider—but above all, he was genuinely kind; authentically sweet in ways that would catch you off guard. Creative and imaginative beyond measure. A soul too expansive to be defined by a single world or a single life. 

He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, color, music, and stories that feel too vast to encompass or to ever end. Those who knew him will carry pieces of his magic forward—when we speak to the wind just right, with in the rhythm of a drum, in acts of quiet kindness, and in the enduring belief that the world can, indeed, be bent toward something better.

Riley’s legacy and magic live on in those who love and honor him: his ethereal and caring grandmother, Amy Carlson; his loving parents, Chris King and Tasha Schulke; his beloved siblings, Liliana Rose and his sweet nephew Zy’Mir (5 months), Iyana Jasmine, Dominic “DK” King , and Ja’Marion Jason ; his cherished aunt, Angel (Jesse) Petrick , and his cousin Winter; his steadfast uncle, Cody Voss ; the wise Great-Grandfather Robert Fleenor and many more extended family and friends. 

He was welcomed into his next journey by those who went before him, in raucous celebration: his great-grandmother Frances Fleenor; great-uncle Alan Carlson; uncle Jason R. Schulke; cousin Asher E. Petrick; and great-great-uncle and aunt Eugene and Joanne Carlson.

A Celebration of Life is planned for June 6th, at Crabby Apple Acres in Algoma, WI. More details to come at a later date.

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love." —Albus Dumbledore, J.K. Rowling

Wands up for Riley King.