John "Joe" Ryan

John “Joe” Ryan of Sherrard, formerly of Chicago, IL, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2017, at home, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Memorial Mass will be held at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the service on Saturday, July 1, 2017, at Mary, Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 1402 10th Street, Orion, IL.  Cremation rites will be accorded following the services.  Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Joe was born on March 1, 1938, in Brainerd, MN, the eldest of eleven children born to John and Alice Ryan. Joe served in the Army Reserve, stopping off at Camp McCoy, WI in 1961 where he made the acquaintance of a cute telephone operator, Gerry Justin.  They were married in 1963 and had one son, Mitch, after moving to Chicago.

A skilled carpenter, Joe worked on many of the buildings visible on the Chicago skyline.  He worked for Chicago District Council of Carpenters for 62 years.  He served as President of the Vittum Park Civic League, proudly served as a trustee of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, and volunteered for many years at the Midway Airport.  Boy Scout Troop 1442 knew him as an active volunteer.  He and Gerry also delighted in dressing as Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty, marching in the Patriot’s Parade for many years.

Joe was a member of Mary, Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church and belonged to both the Fyre Lake Sportsman Club and the QCAA Conservation Club.

Joe will be dearly missed by his wife of 53 years, Gerry; son, John “Mitch” (Alysia), Milan, IL; granddaughter, Ashlyn, Milan, IL; many brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Larry; sisters, Elizabeth Moore and Patrice Ryan.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.