John Patrick Ryan

John Patrick Ryan, 79, of Sugar Creek, Missouri, passed away peacefully on August 18th, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Born on May 26, 1945, in KCMO, John and his twin brother Tommy were miracle preemies, weighing only 1 pound, 10 ounces each. John always said he survived purely because of the nuns who prayed for him. Of course, he would joke that he was born a Democrat before he was baptized a Catholic.

John was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Donna Lines Ryan; his children Sarah (Chris) Shackelford, Kathryn Joyce, John (Amy) Ryan, and Rosemary (Ryan) Brennan; his grandchildren, Zachary (Lauren), Benjamin, Kieran, and Aiden Shackelford, Kamala, Melia, and Cooper Bayliff and their father, Michael Bayliff; Jack, Anna, and Theresa Ryan; Eleanor, Maryanne, and Abigail Brennan; his great grandson Brooks Shackelford; and his nieces and nephew Mary (Jack) Lynch Bunker, Eileen (Jay) Lynch Rhoads, Kathleen (Kevin) Lynch Mercer, Margaret (Sergio) Lynch Shifman, and Sean (Gloria) Ryan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thelma Scholl Ryan and State Representative Thomas F. Ryan; his sister and brother-in-law, Gerry and Joe Kiernan; his sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Ed Lynch; his brother, Tommy Ryan; and his nephew, Eddie Lynch.

John graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Conception Seminary College and in 1970 with a master’s degree in history from the University of Missouri in Columbia. John worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the state of Missouri for over 25 years. He was the president of the MoValley Chapter of National Rehabilitation Association on two separate occasions. He has received the Max T. Prince Award, the Missouri Rehabilitation Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and was the Sugar Creek Citizen of the Year in 2010. He also sold Farmers Insurance for 12 years, where he won no awards except two free turkeys.

John devoted his life to unfailing, unselfish service to others, not only as a counselor, but also as a life-long Scout. He joined Troop 30 at Christ the King parish in south Kansas City when he was 11 years old and after that, went to camp at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola every summer of his life, for 68 straight years. For the first time in his life, he found a place where a tiny kid with goofy eyes had a place. He was always proud to have been crowned “King Peewee” both his first and second years at Scout Camp.

Scouting was a way of life for John, who often said, “A badge to wear is a responsibility to bear.” He spent countless hours, year after year, mentoring and encouraging young men to become the best versions of themselves. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 221 in Independence for 17 years and was a Medicine Man in Tribe of Mic O Say, an honor camping program. He was honored as the recipient of the Paul D. Arend Award, the District Award of Merit, the St. George Award, the Bronze Pelican, the Silver Beaver, and Eagle Scout. He was always much more proud of a kid passing their swim test or tying a knot for the first time than he ever was of any plaque that hung on his wall. In 2010, when interviewed by the Independence Examiner, he was asked how long he would remain active in scouting. John just shrugged and said, “I’ll quit being involved when I fall apart.”

John’s kindness, humor, and heart will be dearly missed. A true Irishman, he never met a stranger, he always had a funny story, and he could get you singing a camp song at the drop of a hat. In spite of his boundless energy, he had the unique ability to sit absolutely still and listen, just listen, just to you.

Services will be held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Independence on August 25, 2024, with Rosary at 5 PM, a Mic O Say Memorial service at 5:30 PM, and Visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be said Monday morning, August 26, 2024, at 10:30 AM, followed by interment at Mound Grove Cemetery and lunch at the Ryans’ home in Sugar Creek. In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests that donations be made in John’s memory to those he held in his heart, to either the monks of Conception Abbey or the boys of Troop 221.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the many cherished friends, near and far, whom John had touched in some way and who have sustained us at this time. We are forever grateful for his thoughtful wisdom, his heartfelt kindness, and his exemplary model of a man who lived for others.

“I go, Great Spirit, answering thy call, for it is well my brothers, carry on.”

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