"He's left a huge hole in our lives, we're devastated and it's been really tough for all of us, the sadness comes in waves," Mrs Thomson said.
Ryan was the youngest of three siblings and an avid golfer. His aunties said he also loved relaxing in front of the television at home, which he shared with his mother, Anne.
"He truly loved his mum, and only for a short time did he live away from her," Mrs Thomson said.
When Ryan did not arrive home at his usual time on Monday morning, his mother knew something was wrong, Mrs Morgan said.
"Anne was up at 5 in the morning and sometimes he goes to a friend's house after work but she wasn't getting an answer on his phone, that's when she rang the police and the place where he was working to see if he had left," she said.
"He usually drives home the airport way, we don't know why he went the other way that day."
Police have said alcohol and speed were not factors in the crash but was likely that Mr Thrush had been distracted, drove onto the grass and overcorrected his steering before hitting the tree.
Since hearing the news of Ryan's passing, his family have gathered in Rotorua from Hamilton, Auckland and Morrinsville.
"If he was here, he'd probably say, 'Why is there a party without me?'," said cousin Alisher Morgan.
Ryan's mother Anne, said her son's generosity had touched the lives of many, including her own workmates.
"I work at the Laboratory Services and the girls have said he would help them out when they needed their TV fixed, or computer or a lightbulb changed, he was always there," she said.
Worldmark Marama Resort manager Arash Alaeinia said Ryan was a very conscientious worker aware of the importance of customer service.
"He went above and beyond his job description to make sure guests were safe and had got to their units and were settled," he said.
Mr Alaeinia also co-owned The Fish & Chip Shop on Lake Rd where Ryan was a regular customer.
"He had his own take on one of our burgers called a 'Man's Burger' - the staff had his written down as 'Ryan's Burger', he was always very polite and courteous as a customer."
A funeral service will be held on Friday at Osborne's Funeral Home on Old Taupo Rd at 1pm. His family said they would personalise his coffin with the things he loved in life like his favourite movies, soft drink and fast food takeaway.
