Lillian Ryan

LILLIAN RYAN

Toledo

Lillian Alberta Ryan, 86, of Toledo, passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at Mayflower Health Center in Grinnell under the care of Grinnell Regional Hospice. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 17, at 11 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in Toledo, with Pastor Brian Oliver officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at Christ United Methodist Church in Toledo.

Lillian was born Nov. 11, 1930, on the family farm in rural Chelsea, Iowa, the daughter of Hillis and Agnes (Plesek) Klenk Sr. She graduated from Chelsea in the Class of 1948, where she was valedictorian.

On April 26, 1954, she was united in marriage to James W. Ryan at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lillian was a hardworking farmwife and raised a loving family. Prior to her marriage, she worked at Jack Hatt in Cedar Rapids. Lillian was a member of Chelsea United Methodist Church, where she was involved in teaching Sunday School, Bible School and Kids Club. She later attended Christ United Methodist Church after they moved to Toledo. She was a wonderful baker, flower gardener and seamstress, and made a lot of doll clothes for her daughters and granddaughters. Lillian was previously an active 4-H mother. She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them.

Survivors include three children, Jean Nelson of Cedar Falls, Julie Ryan of West Des Moines and Don (Michelle) Ryan of Chelsea; four grandchildren, Mindy (Travis) Green of Ankeny, Michael (Jessica) Nelson of Clive, Kelly (Kurt) Townsend of Ames and Kristy Ryan of Chelsea; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James, on July 2, 2007; her son-in-law, Rick Nelson; two brothers, Hillis Jr. and Lilburn Klenk; and one niece, Anne Wilcox.

A memorial fund has been established.

Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo, is handling the arrangements.