Wayne Erwin Ryan

Wayne Erwin Ryan, 69, of rural Wapello died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000, at the Gene?

Wayne Erwin Ryan

Wayne Erwin Ryan, 69, of rural Wapello died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000, at the Genesis Medical Center East in Davenport.

The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the United Methodist Church in Wapello with the Rev. Harlan W. Winter officiating. Burial will follow in the Wapello Cemetery. Friends may call anytime today at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello, where the family will meet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for the benefits of the United Methodist Church, the Wapello Rescue Unit, and the Langwood Project of the Louisa County Conservation Board.

Mr. Ryan was born Sept. 5, 1930, in Grinnell, the son of Jay "J.O." Oliver and Cora Esther Metz Ryan. He married Mary Ann Drake on Oct. 7, 1951, in Knoxville. He was a 1948 graduate of Grinnell High School and had attended Iowa State University. He served in the Iowa National Guard and was a farmer. He was a very active member of the United Methodist Church in Wapello, a member and Past President of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, a Board Member of the National Corn Growers Association, Chairman of the Louisa County Conservation Board, Past President of the Mississippi Valley Farm Business Association, a member of the Old Keck Theatre Players and the Old Keck's Men's Chorus, a member of the Masonic Lodge #5 A.F. and A.M. of Wapello, a member of the Iowa State University Alumni Association, and a past 4-H leader. He had become very active in a Farm Manager Exchange Program as a host to farm managers from Russia and as a delegate of Iowa agriculture to Eastern Block countries, primarily Russia and the Ukraine. He had done remarkably well in learning the Russian language. He enjoyed many sports throughout his life, including bowling and softball and the Iowa State Cyclones. He also enjoyed playing Bridge and hearing or telling a good joke. He really enjoyed history and visiting with people.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, William "Bill" W. Ryan of Columbus Junction, Roy Ryan of West Branch, and Clinton Ryan of Wapello; three daughters, Nancy Tometich of Mt. Pleasant, Martha Young of West Burlington, and Linda Trusty of Mediapolis; four grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; three sisters, Alta Buck of Coralville, Wilma Lincoln of Grinnell, and Marjorie Halstead of Grinnell; and one brother, Warren Ryan of Grinnell. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Harry.