Jack, we ALL loved you and miss you so much!  My dad always shares fun stories of you when you all were growing up.  I loved you as my GENIOUS cousin.  We have ALL been blessed to have known and cherished you.  Share your intelligence with our gracious Lord and Saviour.  Always and forever - XOX Julie Pflepsen OXO

I am looking forward to sharing Eternity with you in the presence of our Living Saviour! I learned of His Love, Mercy, and Grace by and through you! I thank God always for you and will be eternally grateful.  Lovingly and blessed to be your daughter, Holly

Papa is sorely missed, I grieve with you today as we think of him and celebrate his contributions & examples of a Godly life to you and our family. A humble man of character to model our lives after. Love & prayers to you on this day & always. Love, Burt (grateful son-in-law)

Dad, you are missed immensely.  Thank you for living in light of the Savior and sharing the Hooe of eternity together again.  Lovingly your daughter, Holly 

My first recollection of John Ryan was when he and his wife came back to Beulah to celebrate her parents' wedding anniversary. DoLores' mother and my grandmother were double cousins, and very close friends. Her parents and my grandparents often spent time together. They loved to play Yahoo, or Parcheesi. When I asked what he did for a living, I was simply told "something with computers  in our government." I was impressed by the love he showed his wife, DoLores, and his daughters.  Later on I learned of his involvement with the Billy Graham Evangelistic meetings held in California. He set up a computer database program to help the pastors and counselors involved in the BG Evangelistic meetings. Although our family did not see them that often, since they lived outside of North Dakota, John always greeted us with a smile and a warm handshake when they were back in North Dakota for a visit. The Lord blessed him with a brilliant mind, and he used it for God's glory in so many ways. 

So sorry to hear of John’s recent passing 🙏.  John and I met in 9th grade and we graduated together from Sauk Rapids High.  Who knew that we’d both end up residing in California!  So wonderful that John had such a loving wife in Dee.   Dee, we send you and your family our sympathy at this difficult time.
Love and Prayers, Nancy and Irving Fowler

Omar Timal
March, 31 2020
Since I met him, I knew immediately the kind of man he was, a godly person, who served the Lord and care to have a relationship with our Savior.
Always reading the bible, listen gospel music, or watching sermons,  praying and caring to go to church on Sunday even when health conditions were not the best.
I have great memories with him, going to different places daily. Now I know, he is with the Lord, knowing that many will miss him without a doubt but we are comforted, that Mr. Ryan is with the best company ,,,,Jesus !
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Dear Dee and Family,
In many ways Jack and I were more like brothers than cousins.  My dad disciplined us both the same, regardless of the mischief.  Jack was a "pain in the neck", though, because he was an excellent student, and I was a "goof-off", and would constantly hear, "Why can't you be like Jack!!"  One thing I had over him, however, was I could always beat him in checkers!

The positive influence Jack Ryan had on my life was his Christian witness.  Jack lived his Christian faith and I always admired him for that.  He was a prayer warrior and an ambassador for Christ.  But Jack was no wimp!!  Our football coach used to say, "If I had 11 John Ryans on my team, I would never lose a game!"  My prayer, dear brother, is that we will be together again in heaven ---- but I will still beat you in checkers!!
Cousin Dave 

Jack, as my family called him, was the brother I always wanted.  He was an absolutely amazing man:  brilliant, warm, humble, giving and loving.  He was a God-fearing man, and he loved and was so proud of his family.  If you visited, he fussed over you and made you feel like you were a BIG DEAL!  He just wanted you to feel God's love.  His breadth of forgiveness was overwhelming.  He lived Ephesians 4:32... "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  NKJV    I deeply regret that I couldn't spend more time with him.  Now he is whole again, with Jesus and his beloved Peggy, singing Hallelujah and looking down at us and smiling.  Much love and prayers for Dee, Holly and Jenny and their families.

It has been such a Blessing to have been married to my sweetheart, John, for 60 plus years  sharing wonderful times together, too many to mention in such a brief memorial. Thank all of you for sharing my sentiments as John did set an example of integrity in every capacity of home-life  and work responsibilities. The managerial positions he was placed in called for long hours, sometimes 16 hours a days,  troubleshooting complicated  assignments crucial to  maintaining western  world freedoms. His passion in everything was serving God and he genuinely treated people with gentleness, kindness and dignity.  I am blessed to have lived with John and learned what really matters in life and in death. I love you my Sweetheart. I will  miss you tremendously but will join you in Eternity with our Savior, dearest daughter Peggy, and family that we have been praying for.
Lovingly, Dee

We love and miss Papa, he was a role model to look up to, that is for sure. My last visit to see Papa was the summer before last, as the distance made it very difficult. But that visit was extremely special for Carrie, Hattie, and me. Although Papa was weak, he loved seeing Hattie and his eyes lit up when he held her and said "Her name is Hattie". When we went to leave on the evening we had planned, Papa was not feeling well and couldn't talk so the goodbyes were short. We got about 30 minutes down the road and decided to turn around and spend one more night. I am so glad we did, in the morning (around 5 am) Papa woke up with more strength than usual. When we went to say goodbye he could talk rather clearly, he held Hattie and said a prayer for her. It was one of the most special moments I ever shared with him, and we shared a lot of special moments over the years. This was the last time I saw him on Earth but we have the hope found in Christ that we will see him (and Peggy) again in Heaven!

I have extremely fond memories of John and Dee who became my stand-in Grandparents while I was a kid. The love shared was evident even as I grew into an adult and they invited me to stay with them during my Navy training. I feel so blessed to have known such a kind and caring person as John and I know he is now enjoying his heavenly home. Much love from James, Katie, Maya, Jade, and Sapphire!

I am terribly sorry to hear of your loss. My Mom, Susan Whitlow shared the news with me. My heart goes out to all of you and I will be thinking of you during this difficult time. 

John was like a second father to us, loving, kind and gentle.  We are grateful for his service to his family, community, country, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and our Lord. We ask God’s comfort and strength for those he leaves behind who are no doubt confident that he’s at rest in his new heavenly home, in the arms of Jesus, with Peggy and loved ones who’ve gone before him. We will treasure his memories always and know we will see him again someday and there will be rejoicing once again. But our sorrow and loss is great as we mourn for one of the best men we’ve ever known. Big hugs to Dee, Jenny & Holly and family! Wish we could be there in person for you now. Our love &  prayers are with you.

Papa was the type of man that every man would hope to be. He was Christlike in his actions and honorable in his conduct. His sacrifices for his family and country are the epitome of selfless service. He committed his life to caring for and serving others. His professional accomplishments are more than most men could dream to achieve. But most importantly, to Papa, was his service to his saviour, Jesus Christ. He gave his all to the furtherance of The Kingdom and never stopped praying for God's wisdom and guidance in his own life as well as the lives of his family. He persevered to the very end and was no doubt greeted by his Saviour when he passed from this life to the next. Papa is severely missed by us all but his wisdom and guidance will remain with us until we are reunited in Heaven. 

When I think of my Uncle Jack, I think of a devoted family man, who was sweetly romantic with his wife Dee of 60+ years, who doted on his three daughters, Holly, Peggy, and Jenny, who cherished his mother Orphi and stepfather Larry, and who loved his country. He was the most Christ-like figure in my life. For once, I know exactly what God said the moment my Uncle Jack arrived in heaven: "Well done, good and faithful servant." Indeed.

The Great Commandment was part of John's life.  He loved God and his fellow -men.  Furthermore, he loved his wife , children and his Country.  He was a much-loved classmate, teammate and friend.  He will be missed .

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15

For "... to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD." 
II Corinthians 5:8

*My dear precious Daddy, John Patrick Ryan, is indeed present with the LORD, alive more than ever and free from pain and suffering; for this we rejoice.
There are so many, many treasured memories and thoughts that could be shared--a lifetime of treasured memories and lessons learned; but not just memories and lessons, as valued as those are to each one of us who had the privilege of being touched by him. 
Papa, as he was affectionately known to all of us, left us a Legacy:
A Legacy of abiding Faith, deep Love, and  glorious Hope-- Hope in the Resurrection of our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ, which guarantees that we will see Papa again one day if we also have the Hope of the Resurrection through Faith in Jesus Christ. 
My heart is grieving for so great a loss: the presence and strength that my earthly Father gave each of us will be sorely missed. But the Presence and Strength that my Heavenly Father gives us moment by moment is unsurpassed. 
So, for now, I am choosing to Rejoice in the Power and the Hope of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"Death is swallowed up in Victory. 
O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?
But thanks be to God, Who gives us the Victory through our LORD Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:54-55, 57

*I love you, Sweet Daddy.
You are the best earthly Father that anyone could ever be, and I am eternally grateful for the Legacy that you CHOSE to leave to us. 
I will see you and Peggy again one day. 
Until then, your Legacy will live on through the Faith that you passed on to me and to all of us who have chosen to follow in your footsteps. 


My father, John Patrick Ryan, truly lived through the Grace of his Savior and this verse defined his character.
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1".
He was faithful, trustworthy, diligent, self-sacrificing, persevered through trials, and walked humbly with God.  For him to live was Christ, and now in death has received his crown of life.  
I miss him immensely but will rejoice with him in his resurrected body.  Thank you Dad for being an example of Christ to me.

OBITUARY

John Patrick Ryan

September 13, 1935 – March 20, 2020

Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary

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