HELEN RYAN
1926 - 2017
Obituary
Helen Ladeen ("Ladeen") Ryan,
90, a long-time resident of Houston, but most recently of San
Antonio, passed away on March 23, 2017, in San Antonio.
A graveside funeral service will be
held at St. Mary's Cemetery in Newton at 11 a.m. Saturday (June 24,
2017) with Reverend Nicholas Voelker of St. Mary's Catholic Church
officiating. Petersen Funeral Home is handling the funeral
arrangements.
Ladeen was born in Newton to Lucille
and Arthur Steinkirchner on Dec. 10, 1926. She attended Newton High
School, graduating in 1943. She went on to earn a degree in
journalism from the University of Kansas where she met the love of
her life, Dean L. Ryan. Following their graduation they were married
in Newton at St. Mary's Catholic Church and were a loving couple for
50 years until Dean's death in 1999.
Over the years, they resided in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, Dallas and Houston, raising five children. Once her
children began school, Ladeen worked in advertising, first at Sears
and later at Inside Running magazine. Ladeen was a member of Prince
of Peace Catholic Church in San Antonio. She enjoyed old movies, card
games and playing bingo, but mostly caring for her family.
Ladeen was preceded in death by her
husband Dean L. Ryan; her parents, Lucille and Arthur; one son, James
C. Ryan; and a brother, Kenneth Steinkirchner.
Ladeen is survived by sons (and
spouses) Michael Ryan (Gina) of Houston, Thomas Ryan (Mary) of
Richmond, Texas, and John F. Ryan of San Antonio; daughter, Mary
Gibbs of Aurora, Colorado; five grandchildren: Crystal Bacon, George
Gibbs, Nicole Szarka (all of Aurora, Colorado), Matthew Ryan of
Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Jennifer Ryan of Sugar Land, Texas;
and four great-grandchildren: Dustin Good, Natalie Gibbs, Dylan Gibbs
and Rebekah Ryan. She is also survived by one brother, Arthur
Steinkirchner of Deerborn, Michigan.
The family wishes to extend their
gratitude to the Optum Hospice Care (and Cristina Gross) and Pearl
Personal Care Home (and Lidia Jurovschi) for their very loving care
in her final months.
In lieu of flowers, please direct your
donations to St. Mary's Church reconstruction fund.
