Sylvia E. Ryan
Sylvia E. Ryan, 100, of Fond du Lac, died Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at the St. Francis Home. She was born August 31, 1915 in the Town of Oakfield, the daughter of William and Edith Collien Geisthardt. She was a 1933 graduate of Oakfield High School. On April 26, 1941 she married Donald J. Ryan at St. John’s Rectory in Byron and he preceded her in death on December 17, 1981. Sylvia was a member of Sons of Zebedee, St. James Church in Oakfield. She worked seasonal at Mammouth Springs Canning in Oakfield and 20 years at Romart Manufacturing in Oakfield, retiring in 1981. She enjoyed watching, baseball, basketball, and football, gardening, reading, bowling, listening to the radio and going out to eat.
She is survived by one son, Joel (Betty Lou) Ryan of Fond du Lac; one daughter-in-law, Betty Ryan of Oakfield; her ten grandchildren who were her pride and joy, David (Jen) Ryan, Michael (Marisa) Ryan, Denise (Todd) Groeschel, Tricia (Jerry) Held, Mark (Sandy) Ryan, Joe (Michelle) Ryan, Gary Ryan, Greg (Melissa) Ryan, Billy Ryan, and Danny (Andrea) Ryan; 23 great grandchildren and five step great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren and two step great great grandchildren. She is further survived by one sister, Marion Holz of Waupun; one brother, Gerald (Alice) Geisthardt of Hartford; four sisters-in-law, Beatrice Geisthardt of Oakfield, Bea Geisthardt of Waupun, Margaret Ryan of El Reno, OK, and Joan Ryan of Oakfield; one brother-in-law, Richard Harris of Canton, OH; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; one son, John Ryan; one granddaughter-in-law, Jackie Ryan; nine siblings, Elton (Millie) Geisthardt, Margie (Vernon) Marquart, Ruth (Robert) Day, Rolland Geisthardt, Calvin (Jane) Geisthardt, Sara (Norman) Hansen, and Ruby Harris; brothers and sisters-in-law, Russ (Thelma) Ryan, James (Mary) Ryan, Madonna (Lawrence) Schaefer, William (Olive) Ryan, Gordon (Evelyn) Ryan, Bernard Ryan, Margaret (Alvin) Conger, Dwayne Ryan, Eugene and Francis Ryan.
The visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Friday, March 11, 2016 at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home and again on Saturday from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm at church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Sons of Zebedee, St. James Church in Oakfield with Rev. Michael Petersen officiating. Burial will follow in Avoca Cemetery.
Memorials are appreciated to St. Francis Home in Sylvia’s name.
The family extends a special thank you to the staff of St. Francis Home for their care and compassion given Sylvia and her family during her stay.
Additional information and guest book may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com.