Phyllis Ryan

Phyllis Ryan, age 82, of Fergus Falls, MN and formerly of Mankato, MN, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. She was born August 21, 1924, in Mankato, the daughter of Anton and Esther (Hartig) Zierwick. She grew up in Mankato and attended school there, graduating from high school in 1942. On June 26, 1946, she married Robert Ryan at Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church in North Mankato and was employed as a secretary by Hubbard Milling Company. She later obtained the position of Medical Transcriptionist in the x-ray unit at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato, and retired in 1990 after more than 40 years of dedicated employment. Phyllis remained at home on Agency Road in Mankato until 2003 when she relocated to Fergus Falls. She was most recently a resident of the Broen Memorial Home. Phyllis will be remembered as a kind, generous and devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbor. Her sense of humor, quick wit and resounding laugh will forever be recalled with fondness, as will the whimsical songs that she always sang to entertain her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Phyllis thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the laughter and activity of family and friends, but she also appreciated relaxing on the quiet screen porch, admiring her beautiful flower gardens and listening to and watching the birds that loyally visited her backyard. Phyllis took pleasure in cooking and baking and her creations were second to none. Her recipes will live on, but will never be quite like hers. Phyllis loved watching a good talk show, knitting and hand stitching, and occasionally visiting a casino. She was truly a no-nonsense woman who freely spoke her mind and held high standards. She taught everyone that she knew and loved many valuable lessons which will continue to be carried on always. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Robert Ryan; her daughter, Susan Kay Ryan; and her brother, Charles Zierwick. Phyllis is survived by her son, Michael (Gloria) Ryan; granddaughters: Michelle (Robb) Foreman and Pamela (Shane) Partain; great-grandchildren: Mollie and Colton Partain, and Norah and Owen Foreman, all of Fergus Falls, MN; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Zierwick of Bloomington, MN; cousins, nieces and nephews and their families. Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 20, 2007, at Landkamer-Johnson-Boman Funeral Home in Mankato with the memorial service beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.