Helen Mae Ryan
March 8, 1921 — May 28, 2016
Helen M. Ryan, 95, of Manchester, Iowa, died Saturday, May 28, 2016. Visitation will be from 3:00 -8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at Bohnenkamp - Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, with a 3:00 p.m. Scripture Service. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Manchester, with visitation one hour prior to service. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Manchester.
Helen Mae (Gearhart) Ryan was born March 8, 1921, to Raymond M. Gearhart and Emma C. (Baehler) Gearhart. She was educated in Manchester at St. Xavier’s Elementary and Manchester High School and graduated in 1939.
Following high school, Helen attended, and graduated from Paris Beauty Academy in Cedar Rapids. Her first job as a beautician began in Coggon, IA, and she continued her career for a time in the Chicago, Des Moines, and Manchester areas.
On December 31, 1942, Helen was married to Richard C. Ryan in Des Moines, IA. Following their marriage, Richard had enlisted in the armed services during World War II, and Helen moved with him to his enlistment locations and lived in both Palo Alta, CA, and Chicago, IL, during that time. At the end of World War II, Dick returned from active duty, was employed by United Airlines, and Helen moved with him to the Des Moines area for approximately 4 years. In March of 1950, Helen and Dick returned to take over the Ryan family farm where they worked, raised 2 children, and resided until Dick’s death on May 7, 2007, and Helen’s recent move to the Good Neighbor Home on May 23, 2016. Helen lived to be 95 years old, and remained independent and in good health until a quick turn during the last week of her life!
Helen was especially noted for: her gardening, her knack for raising chickens, her excellent cooking – particularly her potato salad & her black raspberry pie, her euchre playing expertise, caring for her outdoor cats, and spoiling her favorite pets. Her family knew her as a “feeder,” as Helen expressed her caring through her feeding of family and friends!
She is survived by 2 children: Kathy Guilgot of Urbandale, IA, and Mike (Linda) Ryan of Manchester, IA; 5 grandchildren: Rick (Karen) Guilgot of Zimmerman, MN, Suzanne (Jerry) Warrick of Johnston, IA, Deirdre Ryan of Marion, IA, Katie (Jake) Edgington of Manchester, IA, & Chris Ryan of Marion, IA; 4 great grandchildren: Ashley Guilgot, Claire & Leah Meyers, & Jonah Edgington; and 4 step-great grandchildren: Maddie Warrick, Samantha (Chris) Shaw, and Britney & Kennedy Deutmeyer.
Those who preceded her in death were her husband: Dick Ryan of Manchester, IA, her parents: Ray & Emma Gearhart of Manchester, IA, her brother: Bob Gearhart & her sister-in-law: Betty Gearhart of Oelwein, IA, her sisters: Audrey Leonard & Jean Shaffer, and her brothers-in-law: Henry Leonard & Irv Shaffer, and her mother & father-in-law: Mary & L. M. Ryan, all of Manchester, IA.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Comfort, or the Good Neighbor Home.
Helen Mae (Gearhart) Ryan was born March 8, 1921, to Raymond M. Gearhart and Emma C. (Baehler) Gearhart. She was educated in Manchester at St. Xavier’s Elementary and Manchester High School and graduated in 1939.
Following high school, Helen attended, and graduated from Paris Beauty Academy in Cedar Rapids. Her first job as a beautician began in Coggon, IA, and she continued her career for a time in the Chicago, Des Moines, and Manchester areas.
On December 31, 1942, Helen was married to Richard C. Ryan in Des Moines, IA. Following their marriage, Richard had enlisted in the armed services during World War II, and Helen moved with him to his enlistment locations and lived in both Palo Alta, CA, and Chicago, IL, during that time. At the end of World War II, Dick returned from active duty, was employed by United Airlines, and Helen moved with him to the Des Moines area for approximately 4 years. In March of 1950, Helen and Dick returned to take over the Ryan family farm where they worked, raised 2 children, and resided until Dick’s death on May 7, 2007, and Helen’s recent move to the Good Neighbor Home on May 23, 2016. Helen lived to be 95 years old, and remained independent and in good health until a quick turn during the last week of her life!
Helen was especially noted for: her gardening, her knack for raising chickens, her excellent cooking – particularly her potato salad & her black raspberry pie, her euchre playing expertise, caring for her outdoor cats, and spoiling her favorite pets. Her family knew her as a “feeder,” as Helen expressed her caring through her feeding of family and friends!
She is survived by 2 children: Kathy Guilgot of Urbandale, IA, and Mike (Linda) Ryan of Manchester, IA; 5 grandchildren: Rick (Karen) Guilgot of Zimmerman, MN, Suzanne (Jerry) Warrick of Johnston, IA, Deirdre Ryan of Marion, IA, Katie (Jake) Edgington of Manchester, IA, & Chris Ryan of Marion, IA; 4 great grandchildren: Ashley Guilgot, Claire & Leah Meyers, & Jonah Edgington; and 4 step-great grandchildren: Maddie Warrick, Samantha (Chris) Shaw, and Britney & Kennedy Deutmeyer.
Those who preceded her in death were her husband: Dick Ryan of Manchester, IA, her parents: Ray & Emma Gearhart of Manchester, IA, her brother: Bob Gearhart & her sister-in-law: Betty Gearhart of Oelwein, IA, her sisters: Audrey Leonard & Jean Shaffer, and her brothers-in-law: Henry Leonard & Irv Shaffer, and her mother & father-in-law: Mary & L. M. Ryan, all of Manchester, IA.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Comfort, or the Good Neighbor Home.
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