Josephine Ryan

Josephine Ann Ryan, 86, of Eagan, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2025 surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Ryan Sr. She was survived by her children, Susan Ryan, Barbara (Stuart) Ryan Mager, Joseph (Karen) Ryan Jr., Colleen (Joe Wirth) Ryan, and Patricia (Baran Dilaver) Ryan; grandchildren, Jeremy Ryan, Westley Mager, Patrick Mager, Lindsey Ryan Swanson, Natalie Ryan, Ashley Lyrek, and Taylor Schroer; great-grandchildren, Blakely Swanson, Blair Swanson, Henry Schroer, Lowry Lyrek, and Louie Lyrek; and siblings, Joseph Foley, Mary Kay Ruddy, Michael Parness, Susan Kren, Michelle Parness, and Debbie Thompson.

JoAnn was born and raised in St Paul. She married in 1958 to Joe Ryan and started a family 1959. JoAnn had a long career in Tupperware beginning in 1962. She began as a Dealer and later rose to Manager, Distributor, Vice President, and International Consultant retiring in 1999. Following retirement, she and Joe settled in Hudson, WI where she became a Master Gardener, worked at several local nurseries and started her own landscape design company. They wintered in Mount Dora, FL where they enjoyed golf and community activities. JoAnn was a volunteer docent at Trout Lake Nature Center, FL and enjoyed working with young students. JoAnn moved to Eagan in 2020, to be close to her children.

Our family extends profound gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at The Commons on Marice (Eagan) and Minnesota Hospice, whose unwavering support and tenderness made a meaningful difference in JoAnn's final days.

A Celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 2 - 4 PM at the Dodge Nature Center, 1691 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118. Please join us to share love, laughter, and memories of her amazing 86-year journey through life. Please park in main lot off Charlton Street. It's a short walk to the Library and History Center (looks like a two-story white house). Dodge Nature Center also has miles of walking trails for its guests. 

Memorial donations may be made to Dodge Nature Center in honor of JoAnn's passion for nature and gardening by visiting  DodgeNatureCenter.org or MN Hospice for the compassionate care provided to JoAnn and our family in her final days at MinnesotaHospice.com