Lawrence "Larry" Ryan

Lawrence Neil Ryan (Larry), of Bradley, Illinois, 81 years old, died Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Riverside Medical Center. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. this Sunday, May 3, 2015, at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home at 295 Main Street, NW in Bourbonnais. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. this Monday, May 4, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Church, 211 N Center Avenue in Bradley. He was born September 19, 1933 in Chicago, initially known by his friends, and relatives in his Irish Household, by his nickname Paddy. Larry was the son of Timothy Edward Ryan, and Pauline Cecile Mikenis Ryan, both of whom preceded him in death. Larry was deeply devoted to family. Surviving are his wife Pauline Marcotte Ryan, whom he married on September 25, 1954 at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Kankakee. He is also survived by his three sons and one daughter, Michael Ryan, married to daughter-in law Carolyn Ryan, of Bourbonnais, Carol Ryan Koplin, married to son-in-law Ross Koplin, of Lone Tree, Colorado, Timothy Ryan, married to daughter-in-law Jodi Ryan, of Bourbonnais, and Patrick Ryan, married to daughter-in-law Cindy Ryan, of Bradley. Lawrence is also survived by his four grandsons, Sean Ryan, married to granddaughter-in-law Ashley Ryan, of Bradley, Kevin Ryan and Laura Gardner of Bradley, Chase Ryan of Bourbonnais and Collin Ryan of Bourbonnais. He is also survived by his great grandchild, and daughter of Sean and Ashley Ryan, Kinley Ryan of Bradley. Lawrence is further survived by his brother Edward Ryan, married to sister-in-law Janice Ryan, of St. Charles, Illinois, and by his sister Theresa Meads of Winnebago, Illinois. Lawrence is also survived by his sister-in-law Marie Rudolf of Bourbonnais. Lawrence was a graduate of Saint Patrick’s High School in Kankakee in 1951 and thereafter from Joliet Junior College with an Associate’s Degree, in 1953, with an emphasis in architectural drafting. Lawrence initiated his long professional career as an architectural draftsman, for residential construction, with the B & M Lumber Company located in Frankfort. He was employed with B & M Lumber Company from 1951 through 1969. Larry also founded and owned his own construction company, L.N. Ryan Enterprises, a general contractor for residential and commercial buildings in Kankakee and surrounding Counties. He designed and built many single family homes and various area commercial projects. Lawrence had a hiatus from his employment with B & M Lumber Company while serving in the U.S Army, stationed in San Francisco, California, from 1956 through 1958. His responsibilities were centered upon architectural drafting for military facilities. From 1969 through 1982 he was founder and President of Mobile Power Wash Service Inc. His company was a pioneer in providing pressure washing cleaning services to corporate trucks and service vehicles. The customers of Mobile Power Wash Service Inc. included many of the large commercial companies that maintained vehicle fleets in northern Illinois. Many young men, who lived in the Kankakee area, remember working for Lawrence at Mobile Power Wash Service Inc. giving them their first exposure to business. From 1982 through 1997 Lawrence was Owner of The Owl’s Roost Model Railroad Shop located within the second floor of the building at 342 South Washington Avenue in Kankakee. His beloved wife Pauline was the Owner of the Owl’s Roost Gift Shop store located on the first floor of the same building. The Owl’s Roost Model Railroad Shop was a mecca for model builders and model train hobbyists. The shop routinely ran a large model railway layout with elaborate scenery and building replicas. Many young Kankakee area individuals initiated their lifelong hobbies at The Owl’s Roost Model Railroad Shop. From 1998 through 2009 Larry worked as the Office Manager for Kankakee Tank Wash owned by his son Timothy Ryan. Lawrence was very active in the Catholic Church. He served as President of the Holy Name Society of Saint Joseph’s Church of Bradley. Lawrence was the first to organize many new and innovative programs for church fund-raising including some that were imitated throughout the Kankakee Area. Many locals remember the pancake breakfasts held at Saint Joseph’s Church organized and administered by Larry. He was an active member of Saint Joseph’s Church from 1959 through the date of his death. Throughout his life Larry had a passion for trains and particularly the models enjoyed by hobbyists. During the 1980s Larry was President of the Kankakee Model Railroad Club. He instituted many programs for young people and hobbyists to learn about, collect and display model trains together with the scenery and replicas of surrounding areas. There was no residential or commercial remodeling task that was too difficult for Larry. He was innovative in designing, building and remodeling houses including his own, and for neighbors, relatives and friends. He knew everything about home construction and had a most keen aesthetic eye for designing and improving residences. Larry was most fond of his extended family. He was the patriarch of an extended group all of whom loved the time they spent with Larry in various activities and enjoyed the counseling, inspiration and mentoring he routinely provided. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley or the family wishes.

Lawrence "Larry" Ryan

September 19, 1933 - April 28, 2015