Eleanor Ryan

Eleanor C. Ryan, 94, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 15th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Fr. Donald Hawes, Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg, and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be 3:45 PM scripture service. Visitation will also be held one hour before services Tuesday at the church.

Eleanor Clemence Ryan was born April 29, 1921, on her grandparents' Jefferson Township farm near Rossville, IA. She was the daughter of John Charles and Miranda Helen (Link) Larkin. Eleanor was baptized and confirmed at St. Pius Catholic Church, Cherry Mound. She attended the Jefferson #7 country school and in 1941, graduated from St. Patrick High School in Waukon, IA. On August 1, 1942, she married Edward Cornelius Ryan at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. The couple farmed together in Jefferson Township. After retiring from farming, they moved to Waukon in 1981.

Eleanor was an active member at St. Patrick Catholic Church. She volunteered at St. Pat's school and volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, where she was also the secretary and treasurer for many years. Eleanor liked playing cards, going dancing, bowling, gardening, and listening to music. She traveled with Ed on bus trips across the country and enjoyed following her children's and grandchildren's activities.

She is survived by her children: Clement (Carolyn) Ryan of Swisher, IA, Mary (Richard) Jensen of McGregor, IA, John (Sherry) Ryan of Polk City, IA, Robert (Deborah) Ryan of Waterville, IA, Donald Ryan of Independence, IA, James (Linda) Ryan of Waukon, and Ann Ryan of Waukon; 19 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; four siblings: Evelyn Reuter of Monticello, IA, Herb (Patsy) Larkin of Waukon, Ray (Janice) Larkin of El Paso, TX, and Alice Murphy of Minneapolis, MN; two sisters-in-law: Rose Larkin of Lansing, IA, and Gayle Larkin of Waukon; and many nieces and nephews.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents John and Miranda Larkin; her husband Ed in 2011; five siblings: Marian Ryan, Frances Gallagher, John B. Larkin, Charles Larkin, and Clement Larkin; brothers-in-law: Charles Ryan, Vernon Gallagher, Roy Reuter, Harold O'Neill, Ed Tayek, William Hancock, and John Howes; and three sisters-in-law: Ramona Larkin, Connie Hancock Howes, and Alice O'Neill Tayek.

Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren. Casketbearers are Eric Ryan, Andy Ryan, Chris Ryan, Nic Ryan, Patrick Ryan, Chad Stamper, Mark Ryan, Shannon Ryan, and Allen Ryan.