Ethel Frances Ryan

Ethel Frances (Mayer) Ryan, 99, died on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at Bellevue Retirement Home. She was born on October 3, 1917 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Frank and Caroline Mayer. Ethel graduated from Messmer High School in May 1934. On April 21, 1937, she married John Henry Ryan at Saint Rose Catholic Church in Milwaukee.

John preceded her in death on September 27, 2005. Ethel is survived by her four children – Joan (Nic Wahl), Jim (Sharon) Ryan, Pat (Tammy) Ryan and Kathy (Daryl) Kapalin. She is also survived by her fifteen grandchildren – Nic Wahl Jr., Scott Wahl, Tim Ryan, Mary Spielbauer, Michele Ryan, Marni Slavik, Sean Ryan, Corey Ryan, Megan Busick, Taryn Ward, Bradley Chartier, Molly French, Matt Kapalin and Jessica Hoban. She is also survived by her thirty-one great grandc
hildren.
In addition to her husband, Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lillian Piechura and her granddaughter Melissa Kapalin.
The Ryan family moved from Milwaukee to Green Bay in May 1955. The family joined Saint Matthew Parish at that time. Ethel was active at Premontre High School – President of the Parents Club – and also Saint Vincent's Auxiliary. Ethel loved playing all kinds of card games – especially bridge. She was quite the "cardshark." She played her last hand of bridge on December 20, 2016. At age forty-two, she started playing golf and played in many golf tournaments. She even managed to become a member of the Hole-in-One club while golfing at Oneida Golf and Country Club.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd from 2:30 PM AM – 4:00 PM at St. Matthew's Church, 130 St. Matthew Street, Green Bay. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 4:00 PM at the Church with a luncheon to follow. Entombment will be in Allouez Catholic Mausoleum. To leave a remembrance of Ethel and to share it with her family please click on the share memories button above.