Ryan, James Forrest

James Forrest Ryan, 73, of Waukon, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at his home in Waukon following a 10-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 4 p.m. Scripture service.

James Forrest Ryan was born March 4, 1937, in Waukon, Iowa, the son of Forrest James and Gladys Joann (Woolstrum) Ryan. For the majority of his working career, Jim was involved in the livestock business. He was a ring man for several area sales barns and he bought, sold, and transported cattle through his own business, Ryan Livestock, for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Ryan of Waukon; seven children, Deb (Mike Quam) Ryan, Donna (Ray) Mahr and Bobby (M'Liss) Ryan, all of Waukon, Randy (Debra) Ryan of Ankeny, Greg (Kristy) Ryan of Marble Falls, Texas, Gary (Carrie) Ryan of Eden Prairie, Minn., and Diane (James) Sommer of Geneso, Ill.; two stepchildren, Wanda (Henry) Fahrenholz of Anaheim, Calif., and Michael Jeide of Waukon; 22 grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild; two brothers, Pat (Karran) Ryan of Decorah and Mike (Deede) Ryan of Waukon; and five sisters, Shirley (Dave) Heilig of Vallejo, Calif., Sharon Ryan of Tiffin, Darlene Drew of Rochester, Minn., Katherine (Dave) Hogendorn of Solon and Wanda (Chuck Morrow) Ryan of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Rick, John and Joseph; and his sisters, Mary Ellen and Elizabeth.

Online condolences may be left at