Obituary of John Wilfrid Ryan

John “Jack” Ryan

1935 - 2020

On March 30, 2020 the brightest star at the top of our family tree has gone out, and in its place leaving to remember and cherish his memory, is his high school sweetheart and wife of 62 years Darlene; children Shelly (Bruce) Ackermann; Terri-Lynn Ryan (Shannon Pennington); Sean (Heather) Ryan; 4 grandchildren; Kimberley (Adam) Marshall; Jeffrey John (Lin) Ackermann; Jack and Rylee Ryan; and 2 great grandchildren, Brock and Bryn Marshall, and his siblings Don Ryan, Tim Ryan and Peggy Ann Gyman. 

Jack was the eldest son of Harry and Pauline Ryan.  He was born in Cudworth, Saskatchewan on August 11, 1935.  Growing up with his mother he learned a work ethic and a sense of resourcefulness and that remained with him throughout his life.

He went to school in Saskatoon and attended St. Joseph and Nutana Collegiate.

As a kid his first job was delivering the Star Phoenix newspaper through good weather and bad and even with snow up to his knees. 

At age 15 he went to work for the CNR as a call-boy to awaken the train crew and later advanced to a line checker.

Jack left home at the age of 17 seeking adventure in the Yukon where he drove heavy trucks on the Alaska Highway, painted girders on the Duke River Bridge and then worked in a vehicle repair shop.

It was in Whitehorse where he met his friend Terry Delaney and Terry’s family who quickly became Jack’s second family. They referred to Jack as their fifth son. Terry became Jack’s lifelong friend and the two of them got into plenty of mischief together. The entire time Jack was in Whitehorse, he continually wrote letters home to his girlfriend in Saskatoon. Three years later, when he returned to Saskatoon, he reunited with her, the love of his life – Darlene Porter.

During the years he was away, Jack always carried a picture of Darlene. It became ragged and faded but to this day it is still in his wallet.

Jack and Darlene were married on September 21^st, 1957, and soon after started their family.

He successfully started three businesses, Ryan Auto Body in 1961, Jettison Salvage in 1979, and Ryco Radiator in 1980. He attained his pilot’s license in 1967. He enjoyed flying his airplane and flew on several ferry trips to deliver many different aircraft. He and his closest flying buddies delivered Harvard Trainers to 20th Century Fox for the movie set of Tora! Tora! Tora!

In 1975 he built his family castle (home) on Ryan’s Corner, and in 1979 he built a cabin at Whelan Bay which he enjoyed with his family.

Jack was always proud of his family and he especially treasured the names “Dad”, “Grandpa” and “Papa.”

Jack lived life to the fullest and was a firm believer in the golden rule.  He was a master at one-liners and trivia. He was fiercely Irish, wore his heart on his sleeve, and his signature wink and finger point put a smile on the faces of many.