Larry Gene Ryan

May 30, 1941 – Oct. 19, 2025

We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes. – Fred Rogers

Larry Gene Ryan was born May 30, 1941, to James Edward and Marjorie Francis (Staton) Ryan on a farm in Galt, Iowa, the second of three sons.

He attended elementary and high school in Ventura, Iowa, and earned post-secondary degrees at the former Mason City Junior College and The University of Iowa (B.S. in 1960 and M.S. in 1968, both in clinical psychology). In July 1983, Larry married the love of his life, Jane, and became dad to Lee and Robin. In 1984, along came Maureen, followed by Stephen in 1986 to round out the family. Vizslas Annie and Katie were also part of the Ryan Family. After helping Jane beat Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2023-24, Larry then battled mesothelioma for 21 months. He passed away at home on Oct. 19, 2025, surrounded by family.

Larry grew up on the farm near Galt until his teen years when they moved to Ventura, Iowa. Larry was an excellent student, president of his high school senior class, and a talented athlete in baseball and football.

Larry paid his own way through college working part-time hospital jobs in Mason City and Iowa City. Originally studying journalism, Larry changed his focus to psychology after his older brother, Terry (who was himself a psychology major) died in a car accident in 1958. After graduating from Iowa in 1968, Larry worked for one year in Cedar Falls schools before joining the clinical staff at Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center (BHGMHC), which he only intended to work short term until he could save enough money to finish his doctoral degree.

However, God had other plans for Larry. On July 1, 1969, he walked through the doors of the mental health center for his first day on the job – and didn’t walk out to retire until 55 years later. Mr. Ryan, as he was known to many of his patients, provided behavioral therapy to and advocated for generations of Iowa children. He had a knack for making kids feel special and empowered, and he held their personal stories with tenderness and respect. His office — though never the most organized place — was filled with drawings, mementos, and toys from children and their families whose lives he helped improve over 5+ decades. He also displayed an impressive array of sports memorabilia, a visible demonstration of his fierce loyalty to the Iowa Hawkeyes. In addition to patients at the Mental Health Center, Larry also maintained a private practice in Waterloo for many years.

Although his career pivoted from journalism to psychology, Larry continued to write and photograph his entire life, especially on annual summer vacations to Minnesota with his family. Packing the station wagon, fishing, grilling, adventures into town, and teaching the appropriate amount of crispness to a toasted marshmallow were hallmarks of every trip. Larry was also well-known for his witty sense of humor. Many times, he was so out of breath from chuckling at his joke that he could only tell it in between gasps of his own laughter. His favorite time of year was the Christmas season, when the entire family would gather and endure hours upon hours of opening presents.

And although Larry had the highest of work ethics, it was comparable only to Jane, his life partner, who tirelessly and diligently maintained house and home. It’s true that his greatest gift to the Waterloo community was his time and talents as a therapist, but equally so, his four children learned about working hard from watching their dad. Follow-through, perseverance, and doing the right thing are traits he passes on. As Larry departs this world and joins another, he leaves to thousands of patients and his children – of whom he is most proud — a legacy of healing, inspiration, and the clear direction to lead lives of service to others.

Larry is survived by the love of his life and devoted wife of 42 years, Jane; children and their spouses, Lee (Maria) Burleson, Robin (Tadd) Burleson Ruetenik, Maureen (Allan) Ryan-McGehee, and Stephen (Anna) Ryan; grandchildren Clifford (Hony) Burleson, Daniel Burleson, Alicia Burleson, Lane Youngblood, Nina Ruetenik, Elliot Ryan, and Quinn Ryan; great-grandchildren Grace and Noah Burleson, and Francis and Rosa Boesen; brother Monte (Candace) Ryan; and faithful Vizsla, Reilley.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; older brother, Terry; and Vizslas Annie and Katie.

Services are 10:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 24 at Unity Presbyterian Church with burial in Waterloo Cemetery.

Visitation 4:00-6:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23 at Locke on 4th. Arrangements by Locke on 4th, 319-233-6138.