Thomas ‘Tom’ Ryan, 91

Aug. 20, 1930 —

Jan. 31, 2022

 

RIDGEWAY/CRESCO - Thomas L. Ryan, age 91, of Ridgeway, Iowa passed away on Jan. 31, 2022, after a short illness. 

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022 from 9-11 a.m. at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, Iowa. Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Agnes Cemetery at Plymouth Rock. 

Tom was born on Aug. 20, 1930, on a farm in northwest Winneshiek County, Iowa, and lived in Winneshiek County all of his life, except for the three years he served in the Army. 

Tom met his wife, Elsie Schnur, the day that he and her brother shipped out to serve during the Korean War. Tom and Elsie corresponded during his service and married a few months after he returned to Iowa in 1953. 

 They farmed together in Winneshiek County for the rest of their lives. Tom remained at the farm after Elsie passed away on May 15, 2020. The couple were familiar faces in the Cresco community and in Winneshiek County. Both enjoyed volunteering for community organizations and served on boards for government agencies, businesses and community groups. 

His childhood love of farming stuck with him throughout his life, and his life partner, Elsie, shared that same passion for farming, along with their sons, Roger and Jeff. Tom and Elsie were recognized with awards for farming and for their community service, and they continued to volunteer into their 80s. They also maintained the Ryan family history for 45 years. Most of all, they enjoyed their time with family and friends. 

After Elsie’s death, their farm home was a real comfort for Tom, where he was surrounded by many of her special touches throughout the house. They designed the house together and enjoyed it since it was built in 1972. Tom was happy to be able to spend his days in the midst of beautiful memories and watch the farming operation from his favorite chair. 

Tom is survived by his four children, Roger (Judy Twetten) of Ridgeway, Roxann of Clive, Iowa, Jean of Decorah, Iowa and Jeff of Cresco; four grandchildren, Michael Schmidt (Lauren McCarthy) of Clive, David Ryan of Reston, Va., Kathryn (Kendall) Kruse of Ridgeway and Sara Gehling of Decorah; two great-grandchildren, Audrey and Emily Schmidt of Clive; sisters, Anna Myers of Ridgeway and Gerry Sorenson of Decorah; brother, Dean (Marcie) Ryan of Cresco; his sister-in-law, Ellen Ryan of Ridgeway; brother-in-law, Virgil Henry of Ridgeway; and many nieces and nephews and other distant family members.