He was born April 24, 1936, in Leavenworth, the oldest of three children to Theodore and Josephine (LaMay) Ryan. He attended school until the 8th grade, and later obtained his GED. That was a very proud day for him.
George served in the U.S. Army and National Guard from 1957 to 1963, with an honorable discharge.
He married Nellie Everett (LHS Class of 1956) in 1956 and they had four children: Linda, Carol, George Jr. and Diane. They later divorced.
He married Mary A. (Vargas) Warner, who had three children: Julie, Jennifer and Stephen, on Aug. 2, 1969. They were married until Mary passed away Oct. 2, 2015.
George was a member of the Eagles and a past member of Happy Hollow Lakes, where his family spent many wonderful times.
He and Mary loved sitting on the porch with coffee, just watching the traffic and the neighborhood. He also loved sitting in his garage, drinking beer. He never met a stranger, which his family had to discourage as he got older. Sadly, the world was not the same as he remembered it.
George’s life work was in manufacturing at Gould National Battery, making batteries. He started there in October 1958 and retired (for the first time), when the plant closed in 2000. He could not take just sitting around doing nothing, so he started a maintenance/janitorial service for the Leavenworth school district in December 2000 and retired (for the second time) in 2005. Both he and Mary realized he still was not ready to just sit home or go out to eat, so in 2006, he went to work for Walmart doing overnight maintenance/janitorial service. He was employed there until 2016.
For the last few years, George was burdened with dementia but still loved sitting on the porch and enjoyed visitors, welcoming them with a smile and, “Hey! What’s going on!” Some he knew them right off; some it took him a minute to remember. But he was always happy and grateful for the visits.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Nellie, his second wife Mary, and two daughters, Linda and Diane.
He is survived by three daughters, Julie (Robert) West, Leavenworth, Jennifer Warner, Ohio, and Carol Werbe and family, Kansas; two sons, Steve (Susan) Warner, Arkansas, and George (Kim) Ryan, Missouri. He is also survived by a brother, John (Mary) Ryan and a sister, Mary (Joseph) Ward, all of Leavenworth. His nine grandchildren survive him: Josh, Nicole (Jon), Lea, Sarah (Jason), Angela (AJ), Daniel, Kristopher, Meghan (Byron), and Nickie. He also has 15 great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Caitlyn, Rilya, Avery, Sophia, Peyton, Camden, Cora, Ethan, Alle, Andrew, Harmony, Lillian, Alden and Finley. Numerous nieces and nephews will also mourn his passing.
A heartfelt thank you to Jim, Kathy and Carl for looking out for both George and Mary over the years. From clearing sidewalks to just waving or stopping by to say hi, and trimming the front grass when George could no longer do it. It was much appreciated.
A very special thank you to Crittendon Home Care for the outstanding care George was given that allowed him to remain in his home, as he wished. They went above and beyond and it was so appreciated. Thank you also to Encompass Hospice services.
Memorial contributions may be made to Crittendon Home Care, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Memorial contributions may be made to Crittendon Home Care, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.
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