Celebration of Life: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 2:00 pm at Stockholm Lutheran Church of Cokato.
Visitation: Friday, September 21, 2012, 4-8pm at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, and 1 hour prior to service at Church.
James Orville Ryan, Cokato, age 76, passed away suddenly at Hutchinson Hospital on September 18, 2012.
James (Jim) Orville Ryan was born April 17, 1936 to Joseph & Irene (Peterson) Ryan in Bird Island, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bird Island, MN. He graduated from Bird Island Public High School in 1954 and then became an active member of the National Guard.
Jim was united in marriage to Mary Ann Hess on September 17, 1961 at Stockholm Lutheran Church in Cokato. They were later blessed with 3 children – Jonathan, Miriam, and Marilyn.
Jim was strong in his faith and was an active member of Stockholm Lutheran Church for many years. He helped start the Stockholm Tractor Show and was found anywhere and everywhere that he could help, with Mary Ann at his side. He also participated in many community activities such as the County Fair, Insurance Board, Museum Board, Sons of Norway, Legion, Cokato Corn Carnival, and many other organizations. He was also an avid collector of Massey-Harris and Massey Ferguson Tractors. Jim was an exemplary model of volunteerism in the Dassel-Cokato area. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and watching their activities- from football to concerts, he was always in the crowd. Above all, he loved to be at the farm and working in the fields.
Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Ann, his 3 children and their spouses, Jonathan (Jane) Ryan of Cokato, Miriam Ryan of Maple Grove, and Marilyn (Bruce) Irvin of Cokato. His 7 grandchildren- Kate, Rebecca, and Jacob Ryan of Cokato; Kiana Temanson of Maple Grove; Tyler, Jordan, and Sarah Irvin of Cokato also survive him. He is further survived by his siblings, LaVonne (Robert) Wertish of Olivia, Robert (Mary) Ryan of Bird Island, Paul (Rita) Ryan of Lakeville, sister-in-laws Katherine Jolin of Springboro, OH, Jane Ray of St. Paul, Carolyn (Carl) Cole of St. Thomas, VI, and Brenda Hess of Redondo Beach, CA, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Joe & Irene, a sister Laura Mae, his in-laws, Omar & Ethel Hess, and brother-in-law Tim Jolin.
Arrangements were made by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato. A service of Christian Burial took place on Saturday, September 22 at Stockholm Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Little officiating.