Memorial
Vernita Evelyn Ryan, 81, of Northbrook Manor Care Center, died there Thursday, January 11, 2007, after a long illness. Funeral Mass: 2 PM Monday at St. Pius X Catholic Church by the Rev. Donald Klein. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Anne "Nancy" and Patricia Ryan, both of Cedar Rapids; 2 sons, Gary Joy Ryan and John "Jack" Jackie Ryan, all of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren and step grandchildren, Rhiannon Ryan Kremer and Joseph Ryan Kremer, Brock, Amber, Morgan, and Trent Ryan, and Kiley and Bryanne Brian Theusch Baker; her great grandchildren and step great grandchildren, Nicholas Cruise, Dante Ryan, Chase and Courtney Baker, and Alexys Theusch; a sister Mable Bowen; sisters-in-law, Lavonne Carlson, Betty Carlson, and Eileen Ryan; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Florence and Meinrad Busch; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Vernita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John V. Ryan, a son, Richard Ryan, a grandson, John Brent Ryan, a brother-in-law, Robert Bowen, 2 brothers, Roy and Edd Carlson, a brother and sister-in-law, Evar and Aileen Carlson; a brother-in-law, Emmett Ryan, 3 sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Genevieve and Leander Schaak, and Eleanor and Albert Tobin, and Violet and Raymond Stanton, and a sister-in-law, Helen Ryan.
Vernita was born on June 5, 1925 in Spring Grove, Iowa to David and Anna Nelson Carlson. She married John Vernon Ryan at Camp Breckenridge in Henderson, KY on June 24, 1944. He died in 1980. Vernita was employed at Rockwell-Collins from 1959 through 1985 when she retired. She enjoyed hobbies of crocheting, bingo, gambling, gardening, and canning. Vernita and her husband, John, were actively involved in opening the United Cerebral Palsy Center in Cedar Rapids, where Nancy attended in the 1950's. Vernita was a loving wife, caring mother and grandmother, beloved sister and a compassionate and loyal friend to many.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to group home provider, Discovery Living or Camp Courageous of Iowa.