Francis W Ryan

Francis William Ryan, age 87 of Mankato, died peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2008, the feast of All Saints, at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Ryan, C.S.P. officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Tuesday at Mankato Mortuary with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service and sharing of memories. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the Church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Schola Foundation, or Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Frank was born on September 12, 1921 in Bird Island, MN to Francis J. and Elizabeth (Carr) Ryan. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in Bird Island and went on to graduate from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He served his country in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII from Feb 1, 1943 until November 25, 1945. He was united in marriage to Genevieve Schmelz on October 14, 1943 at the Church of the Incarnation in Minneapolis. He went into business with his father at Ryan Grain and Feed Elevator in Bird Island from 1945 until 1958. He was subsequently employed by the Ralston Purina Company as a District Manager for 27 years before his retirement in 1983.

Frank was an active member at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church for many years. He sang in the St. Cecilia Choir, funeral choir, and volunteered as a eucharistic minister at ISJ hospital. He served as President of Mankato Serra Club, a Catholic organization promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life, as Governor of District 7 Serra, and received the Thomas P. Coughlan distinguished Serran award. He also served as a Guardian Ad Litem for Blue Earth County.

He received the Winona Diocese Bishop's Award for Catholic Action and the Knight of St. Gregory the Great Award. Very involved with Mankato Area Catholic Schools, he served on the MACS Board and received the Loyola High School Hall of Fame Award. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Board of Directors for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the St. Thomas University Alumni Association. He was a recipient of the WCCO Good Neighbor Award.

Frank was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Genevieve Ryan of Mankato; children, Mary Jane Ryan-Connelly and her husband Bill of Grass Valley, CA, Fr. Thomas Ryan, C.S.P. of Washington, D.C., Daniel Ryan and his wife Mary Claire of Brainerd, Michael Ryan and wife Pamela of St. Paul, and Kevin P. Ryan and wife Sharon George of Columbus, OH; 10 grandchildren, Jan Olsen, Ryan Reed, Andrew and Colin Ryan, Brigid Ryan-Ling, Courtney Ryan-Schmidt, Megan Ryan, Nicole Ryan, Kellan Ryan, and Jacinta Ryan; five great-grandchildren, Conner and Gavin Olsen, Caleb and Emmett Ling, and Addison Ryan; nephews, Jim and John Sanger; niece, Mary Colleen Meier.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dolores Sanger; brother-in-law, Warren; and brother, James.