Elaine Ryan

Elaine Hope Ryan was born on December 27, 1936 to Henry and Ella (Nickel) Karow in Germantown Township in rural Sanborn, MN. She would have celebrated her 60 year reunion of the class of 1954 from Sanborn High School this July. Elaine worked as a switchboard operator in Tracy and New Ulm. On April 7, 1956, she was united in marriage to James Ryan at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springfield. The couple farmed in North Star Township on the Ryan family homestead that was declared a Century Farm in 1976. After her family was raised, Elaine worked at St. John Lutheran Home in the laundry, housekeeping, and activities departments. Elaine was a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church where she was involved in the CCW and the bible study, she was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her children's visits, watching the grandchildren play, bingo, playing cards, and cooking for the boys when they came home for the fall hunting season. She is survived by her sons - Patrick (Therese) of New Prague, MN, Michael of Jordan, MN, Richard of Hixton, WI, Timothy (fianc Loree Lang) of New Prague, MN; daughter Tamara Klint of Maple Grove, MN; 11 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; husband James in 1988; daughter-in-law - Jacquie; son-in-law - Greg; grandson Calvin; great granddaughter Kylie; siblings - Gerald Karow, Marian Dammann, and Dennis Karow. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday, July 6, 2014 Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield Chapel 407 N. Jackson Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087 Second Visitation 9:30 am - 10:30 am Monday, July 7, 2014 St. Raphael's Catholic Church, Springfield, MN 112 West Van Dusen Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087 Service Information 10:30 am Monday, July 7, 2014 St. Raphael's Catholic Church, Springfield, MN 112 West Van Dusen Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087 Interment Information St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery 395th Ave. Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087