Ronald Michael Ryan Sr.
August 21, 1941 ~ September 2, 2022
Ronald Michael Ryan Sr., Age 81
From Saint Paul, MN
Passed away at his lake home on Friday September 2, 2022.
Ron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and police officer of 40 years. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.
His son, Ron Ryan Jr, preceded Ron in death.
Ron is survived by his wife Colleen "Kelly" Ryan, daughter Maria (nee Ryan)(son-in-law, Brad) Hanggi, and granddaughters Elena and Isabella.
Funeral Mass 10am, Saturday, September 10th at Assumption Church, 51 7th St. W. St. Paul, with a visitation 1 hour prior to Mass and from 4 - 7pm, Friday September 9th at O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home 575 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul.
******************************************
The murder of Ron Ryan Sr.'s police officer son could have made him bitter, but he never lost his kindness, say those who knew the longtime law enforcement officer.
Ryan, 81, died Friday at his Minnesota lake cabin.
"He's being greeted at Heaven's gate by his beloved son," Angie Steenberg, a civilian employee of the St. Paul Police Department for 35 years, wrote on Facebook. "May they both rest in peace."
St. Paul police officers Ron Ryan Jr., 26, and Tim Jones, 36, were fatally shot on Aug. 26, 1994.
'CLASSIC ST. PAUL COP'
Ron Ryan Sr. grew up in South St. Paul. His closest childhood friend's father was a South St. Paul police officer he looked up to.
When Ryan was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and became an aviation electrician. He later went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
At a job fair on campus, Ryan met a St. Paul police officer and decided to take the police exam. The St. Paul department hired him in 1968, and later he got a shift that allowed him to finish college during the day and work a patrol shift at night.
"Just salt of the earth," said Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie, who worked with both Ryans at the police department. "Classic St. Paul cop, Irish Catholic, bled blue, loved that place."
He served 40 years in law enforcement, most of them with the St. Paul Police Department. He was in charge of the sex/domestic crimes, traffic and accident and special investigations/ vice units, among others. He retired in 2008 as commander of the now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force.
Ryan cared about officers and people in the community, said retired St. Paul Police Sgt. Kevin Moore.
"He knew people in every nook and cranny," he said.
Ryan applied to be St. Paul's police chief in 2004, a position that rank-and-file officers wished they could have seen him in, according to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
LOSS OF HIS SON
Officers have kept "a special place in our hearts" for Ron Ryan Jr.'s parents, sister and his wife, Leslie said.
The legacies of both Ron Ryan Sr. and Jr. "still live on within the department," said Interim St. Paul Police Chief Jeremy Ellison.
"Ron was one of the kindest officers you could work with, who was also an outstanding cop," Fletcher said. "The amazing thing is, after his son was killed, he was always able to maintain that inner kindness and spirit that all of us looked up to."
The cruelty of losing a son in the line of duty could have caused Ron Ryan Sr. to lose his way — and "it was terribly painful, it was not something that he ever got over — but yet his faith in God was unwavering," said Dennis Flaherty, former Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association executive director.
DEVOTED HUSBAND, DAD, GRANDPA
Flaherty, who'd known Ryan since 1974, still saw him frequently. He regarded Ryan as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
"We would probably get together every few weeks for lunch and I would hear every new story about his granddaughters and his daughter and son-in-law," Flaherty said.
In his retirement, Ryan loved spending time at the lake with his wife Kelly, enjoying his family and socializing.
"He was the storyteller, the life of the party," Flaherty said. "People wanted to be near him."
Flaherty last saw Ryan for lunch on Aug. 24, and Ryan told him he wasn't feeling well and he was going to see a doctor the next day. When Flaherty heard he'd gone back to the lake, he thought Ryan was OK, but he died of an apparent medical emergency early Friday.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
By Mara H. Gottfried ~ Saint Paul Pioneer Press on September 3, 2022
August 21, 1941 ~ September 2, 2022
Ronald Michael Ryan Sr., Age 81
From Saint Paul, MN
Passed away at his lake home on Friday September 2, 2022.
Ron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and police officer of 40 years. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.
His son, Ron Ryan Jr, preceded Ron in death.
Ron is survived by his wife Colleen "Kelly" Ryan, daughter Maria (nee Ryan)(son-in-law, Brad) Hanggi, and granddaughters Elena and Isabella.
Funeral Mass 10am, Saturday, September 10th at Assumption Church, 51 7th St. W. St. Paul, with a visitation 1 hour prior to Mass and from 4 - 7pm, Friday September 9th at O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home 575 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul.
******************************************
The murder of Ron Ryan Sr.'s police officer son could have made him bitter, but he never lost his kindness, say those who knew the longtime law enforcement officer.
Ryan, 81, died Friday at his Minnesota lake cabin.
"He's being greeted at Heaven's gate by his beloved son," Angie Steenberg, a civilian employee of the St. Paul Police Department for 35 years, wrote on Facebook. "May they both rest in peace."
St. Paul police officers Ron Ryan Jr., 26, and Tim Jones, 36, were fatally shot on Aug. 26, 1994.
'CLASSIC ST. PAUL COP'
Ron Ryan Sr. grew up in South St. Paul. His closest childhood friend's father was a South St. Paul police officer he looked up to.
When Ryan was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and became an aviation electrician. He later went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
At a job fair on campus, Ryan met a St. Paul police officer and decided to take the police exam. The St. Paul department hired him in 1968, and later he got a shift that allowed him to finish college during the day and work a patrol shift at night.
"Just salt of the earth," said Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie, who worked with both Ryans at the police department. "Classic St. Paul cop, Irish Catholic, bled blue, loved that place."
He served 40 years in law enforcement, most of them with the St. Paul Police Department. He was in charge of the sex/domestic crimes, traffic and accident and special investigations/ vice units, among others. He retired in 2008 as commander of the now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force.
Ryan cared about officers and people in the community, said retired St. Paul Police Sgt. Kevin Moore.
"He knew people in every nook and cranny," he said.
Ryan applied to be St. Paul's police chief in 2004, a position that rank-and-file officers wished they could have seen him in, according to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
LOSS OF HIS SON
Officers have kept "a special place in our hearts" for Ron Ryan Jr.'s parents, sister and his wife, Leslie said.
The legacies of both Ron Ryan Sr. and Jr. "still live on within the department," said Interim St. Paul Police Chief Jeremy Ellison.
"Ron was one of the kindest officers you could work with, who was also an outstanding cop," Fletcher said. "The amazing thing is, after his son was killed, he was always able to maintain that inner kindness and spirit that all of us looked up to."
The cruelty of losing a son in the line of duty could have caused Ron Ryan Sr. to lose his way — and "it was terribly painful, it was not something that he ever got over — but yet his faith in God was unwavering," said Dennis Flaherty, former Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association executive director.
DEVOTED HUSBAND, DAD, GRANDPA
Flaherty, who'd known Ryan since 1974, still saw him frequently. He regarded Ryan as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
"We would probably get together every few weeks for lunch and I would hear every new story about his granddaughters and his daughter and son-in-law," Flaherty said.
In his retirement, Ryan loved spending time at the lake with his wife Kelly, enjoying his family and socializing.
"He was the storyteller, the life of the party," Flaherty said. "People wanted to be near him."
Flaherty last saw Ryan for lunch on Aug. 24, and Ryan told him he wasn't feeling well and he was going to see a doctor the next day. When Flaherty heard he'd gone back to the lake, he thought Ryan was OK, but he died of an apparent medical emergency early Friday.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
By Mara H. Gottfried ~ Saint Paul Pioneer Press on September 3, 2022
Ronald Michael Ryan Sr.
August 21, 1941 ~ September 2, 2022
Ronald Michael Ryan Sr., Age 81
From Saint Paul, MN
Passed away at his lake home on Friday September 2, 2022.
Ron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and police officer of 40 years. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.
His son, Ron Ryan Jr, preceded Ron in death.
Ron is survived by his wife Colleen "Kelly" Ryan, daughter Maria (nee Ryan)(son-in-law, Brad) Hanggi, and granddaughters Elena and Isabella.
Funeral Mass 10am, Saturday, September 10th at Assumption Church, 51 7th St. W. St. Paul, with a visitation 1 hour prior to Mass and from 4 - 7pm, Friday September 9th at O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home 575 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul.
******************************************
The murder of Ron Ryan Sr.'s police officer son could have made him bitter, but he never lost his kindness, say those who knew the longtime law enforcement officer.
Ryan, 81, died Friday at his Minnesota lake cabin.
"He's being greeted at Heaven's gate by his beloved son," Angie Steenberg, a civilian employee of the St. Paul Police Department for 35 years, wrote on Facebook. "May they both rest in peace."
St. Paul police officers Ron Ryan Jr., 26, and Tim Jones, 36, were fatally shot on Aug. 26, 1994.
'CLASSIC ST. PAUL COP'
Ron Ryan Sr. grew up in South St. Paul. His closest childhood friend's father was a South St. Paul police officer he looked up to.
When Ryan was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and became an aviation electrician. He later went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
At a job fair on campus, Ryan met a St. Paul police officer and decided to take the police exam. The St. Paul department hired him in 1968, and later he got a shift that allowed him to finish college during the day and work a patrol shift at night.
"Just salt of the earth," said Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie, who worked with both Ryans at the police department. "Classic St. Paul cop, Irish Catholic, bled blue, loved that place."
He served 40 years in law enforcement, most of them with the St. Paul Police Department. He was in charge of the sex/domestic crimes, traffic and accident and special investigations/ vice units, among others. He retired in 2008 as commander of the now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force.
Ryan cared about officers and people in the community, said retired St. Paul Police Sgt. Kevin Moore.
"He knew people in every nook and cranny," he said.
Ryan applied to be St. Paul's police chief in 2004, a position that rank-and-file officers wished they could have seen him in, according to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
LOSS OF HIS SON
Officers have kept "a special place in our hearts" for Ron Ryan Jr.'s parents, sister and his wife, Leslie said.
The legacies of both Ron Ryan Sr. and Jr. "still live on within the department," said Interim St. Paul Police Chief Jeremy Ellison.
"Ron was one of the kindest officers you could work with, who was also an outstanding cop," Fletcher said. "The amazing thing is, after his son was killed, he was always able to maintain that inner kindness and spirit that all of us looked up to."
The cruelty of losing a son in the line of duty could have caused Ron Ryan Sr. to lose his way — and "it was terribly painful, it was not something that he ever got over — but yet his faith in God was unwavering," said Dennis Flaherty, former Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association executive director.
DEVOTED HUSBAND, DAD, GRANDPA
Flaherty, who'd known Ryan since 1974, still saw him frequently. He regarded Ryan as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
"We would probably get together every few weeks for lunch and I would hear every new story about his granddaughters and his daughter and son-in-law," Flaherty said.
In his retirement, Ryan loved spending time at the lake with his wife Kelly, enjoying his family and socializing.
"He was the storyteller, the life of the party," Flaherty said. "People wanted to be near him."
Flaherty last saw Ryan for lunch on Aug. 24, and Ryan told him he wasn't feeling well and he was going to see a doctor the next day. When Flaherty heard he'd gone back to the lake, he thought Ryan was OK, but he died of an apparent medical emergency early Friday.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
By Mara H. Gottfried ~ Saint Paul Pioneer Press on September 3, 2022
August 21, 1941 ~ September 2, 2022
Ronald Michael Ryan Sr., Age 81
From Saint Paul, MN
Passed away at his lake home on Friday September 2, 2022.
Ron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and police officer of 40 years. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy.
His son, Ron Ryan Jr, preceded Ron in death.
Ron is survived by his wife Colleen "Kelly" Ryan, daughter Maria (nee Ryan)(son-in-law, Brad) Hanggi, and granddaughters Elena and Isabella.
Funeral Mass 10am, Saturday, September 10th at Assumption Church, 51 7th St. W. St. Paul, with a visitation 1 hour prior to Mass and from 4 - 7pm, Friday September 9th at O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home 575 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul.
******************************************
The murder of Ron Ryan Sr.'s police officer son could have made him bitter, but he never lost his kindness, say those who knew the longtime law enforcement officer.
Ryan, 81, died Friday at his Minnesota lake cabin.
"He's being greeted at Heaven's gate by his beloved son," Angie Steenberg, a civilian employee of the St. Paul Police Department for 35 years, wrote on Facebook. "May they both rest in peace."
St. Paul police officers Ron Ryan Jr., 26, and Tim Jones, 36, were fatally shot on Aug. 26, 1994.
'CLASSIC ST. PAUL COP'
Ron Ryan Sr. grew up in South St. Paul. His closest childhood friend's father was a South St. Paul police officer he looked up to.
When Ryan was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and became an aviation electrician. He later went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
At a job fair on campus, Ryan met a St. Paul police officer and decided to take the police exam. The St. Paul department hired him in 1968, and later he got a shift that allowed him to finish college during the day and work a patrol shift at night.
"Just salt of the earth," said Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie, who worked with both Ryans at the police department. "Classic St. Paul cop, Irish Catholic, bled blue, loved that place."
He served 40 years in law enforcement, most of them with the St. Paul Police Department. He was in charge of the sex/domestic crimes, traffic and accident and special investigations/ vice units, among others. He retired in 2008 as commander of the now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force.
Ryan cared about officers and people in the community, said retired St. Paul Police Sgt. Kevin Moore.
"He knew people in every nook and cranny," he said.
Ryan applied to be St. Paul's police chief in 2004, a position that rank-and-file officers wished they could have seen him in, according to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
LOSS OF HIS SON
Officers have kept "a special place in our hearts" for Ron Ryan Jr.'s parents, sister and his wife, Leslie said.
The legacies of both Ron Ryan Sr. and Jr. "still live on within the department," said Interim St. Paul Police Chief Jeremy Ellison.
"Ron was one of the kindest officers you could work with, who was also an outstanding cop," Fletcher said. "The amazing thing is, after his son was killed, he was always able to maintain that inner kindness and spirit that all of us looked up to."
The cruelty of losing a son in the line of duty could have caused Ron Ryan Sr. to lose his way — and "it was terribly painful, it was not something that he ever got over — but yet his faith in God was unwavering," said Dennis Flaherty, former Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association executive director.
DEVOTED HUSBAND, DAD, GRANDPA
Flaherty, who'd known Ryan since 1974, still saw him frequently. He regarded Ryan as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
"We would probably get together every few weeks for lunch and I would hear every new story about his granddaughters and his daughter and son-in-law," Flaherty said.
In his retirement, Ryan loved spending time at the lake with his wife Kelly, enjoying his family and socializing.
"He was the storyteller, the life of the party," Flaherty said. "People wanted to be near him."
Flaherty last saw Ryan for lunch on Aug. 24, and Ryan told him he wasn't feeling well and he was going to see a doctor the next day. When Flaherty heard he'd gone back to the lake, he thought Ryan was OK, but he died of an apparent medical emergency early Friday.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
By Mara H. Gottfried ~ Saint Paul Pioneer Press on September 3, 2022
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