Mary Jane Ryan

Mary Jane Ryan, 92, died peacefully surrounded by family Monday, March 27, 2023, while a patient at UnityPoint Health–Allen Hospital Hospice in Waterloo. She was born March 10, 1931, the daughter of Ernest and Bernice Carey Donahue in Charles City, IA. Mary graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1948 and married her high school sweetheart, David L. Ryan, on August 8, 1950. To this union the couple was blessed with three children. She began her work career at Waterloo Water Works, transitioned to a stay-at home mom raising her children and then worked as a maintenance agreement salesperson for Sears and retired in 1996.

Mary's life is best described as "she loved people." It did not matter if it was family, neighbors, or church family, she was kind to everyone. If she met a stranger, they did not stay that way for long. Mary loved birds and books and was an avid Waterloo Stars/Blackhawks hockey fan. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And nice weather was not complete without her driving one of the many convertibles she owned over her life. But there was things Mary could not do like bake a pie or brownies. In later life, doctors' appointments were not complete without stopping for chocolate ice cream afterwards.

Mary is survived by her children Deborah Keith of Middletown, CA, Michael (Dorothy) Ryan of Bondurant, IA, and Dennis (Pamela) Ryan of Waterloo; grandchildren Jenny (Steve) Silverthorn, April (Mike) Haupt, Joe (Serey) Keith, Jon (Kimberly) Keith, Erik (Dara) Ryan, Brooksany (Lamar) Hall and Seth Jobes-Ryan; 10 great grandchildren; and other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, grandsons Thaddeus Keith and Nathaniel Keith, and great-granddaughter Lola Keith.

Funeral services for Mary will be held Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo, IA with a visitation for an hour prior to the service. Private family burial will be at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo. As a show of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Willis and Patricia Hansen Charitable Foundation c/o UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Mary's memory. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.