Chaplain John R. Ryan Bg, Ret.

Des Moines Register
November 13, 2010




Chaplain for 29 Years to The National Guard, John R. Ryan died at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa November 11, 2010, on Veterans Day. He had been granted a certificate of Service Award entitled to "Brigadier General John R. Ryan", April 14, 1984. He was also awarded a Medal of Honor from the same National Guard on June 27, 1984.

Other clerical assignments besides the Guard were: Our Lady of Fatima, Portsmouth, IA; Dowling High School, Des Moines, IA; St. John's, Cumming, IA; St. Mary of Nazareth, Des Moines, IA; and St. Theresa's, Des Moines, IA.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Joseph and Lucy Ryan, an older sister, Sheila Fahrendorf, and older brother Joseph Ryan, and a younger brother, Rev. Thomas Ryan. Still living are two siblings, Patricia Miller and Msgr. Gerald Ryan. Still living also are 23 nieces and nephews, plus a good number of great- nieces and great-nephews.

The ability to make friends, to entertain people with songs and piano, to influence students as an English teacher and religion teacher were among his talented gifts. His English students remember him well for their assignments to memorize the prologue of the Canterbury Tales.

A visitation will be held at Westover Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, November 14 with a Vigil service at 4 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at St. Mary of Nazareth, Monday at 10:30 a.m. with burial following at Glendale Cemetery. The family requests any memorial donations be made to St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church, Des Moines, IA.

Published in Des Moines Register from November 13 to November 14, 2010