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Father Thomas J. Ryan ’46, brother of James Ryan ’52

Fr. Thomas Ryan ’46

Father Thomas J. Ryan ’46
May 2, 1928 ~ January 17, 2017
The Reverend Thomas J. Ryan, a priest of the diocese of Sioux Falls, died in Johnston, Iowa on January 17, 2017 at the age of 88. His body was donated to the Creighton University Medical School of Omaha. His Memorial Mass will be held Monday, February 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church in Huntimer, South Dakota.
Father Ryan was born in Mitchell, SD on May 2, 1928, the fifth of ten children of William and Mary (Grandy) Ryan. His childhood and early teen-age years were spent in Ethan and Mitchell. As a high school and college student he spent his summers working on his family’s construction company building concrete elevators and grain storage facilities throughout the Midwest, southern and mountain states.
He attended Mitchell Public Schools and Notre Dame Junior High School before enrolling in Saint John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville, MN where he began his studies for the priesthood. He graduated in 1946. After high school and two years of college at Saint John’s University, he studied philosophy and theology at the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN before his ordination in the St. Joseph Cathedral, Sioux Falls, on January 31, 1954.
He did graduate work at the South Dakota State University, Brookings, where he majored in Communications and the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, in preparation for his work in the Diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal.
He is survived by two sisters, Mary (John) Gleeson of Alexandria, VA and Rita (Eugene) Gies of Annandale, VA, and one brother James H. Ryan ’52 of Tulsa, OK, several nieces and nephews and an extended family. A private Memorial Mass will be offered for his repose when the created remains of his body are released by Creighton Medical School, Omaha.
Memorial contributions can be directed to the Presentation Sisters in Aberdeen, South Dakota to continue their missionary work.  The address is 1500 N 2nd Street Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401.
The Saint John’s Prep community remembers Father Thomas Ryan’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

– Matthew 5:3-9