James J. Ryan

James J. Ryan of Golden Valley, born July 27th, 1951, passed away on May 3, 2022 at J A Wedum Hospice Center at 8:30 pm.

Jim was born in Robbinsdale Minnesota at North Memorial Hospital. He moved with his family to Golden Valley when his sister Mary was born in 1955 and lived there his whole life. His family owned a boat and spent summers on various Minnesota lakes fishing and boating.

During high school Jim played guitar and led the singing at St. Margaret Mary’s church. He was also in The Legion of Mary Youth church group where he volunteered at Travilla Nursing home. On Holidays he and his sister and cousin Mark Gebhard would sing and play guitars to entertain the family. He also enjoyed building car models and working on his HO train layout which he continued throughout his life. Jim was an avid photographer and took all the photos at family events and on trips.

After high school he went to the University of Minnesota and majored in mathematics. He was in a band called Chrome in the 1980’s with John Thorp who he met through his cousin JoAnne Middaugh. They played the various bars and had a stint at the VA hospital. Later Jim did consultant work for a software company called Auto Data and worked with his friend Marty America who was also in the band. Consulting turned into co-ownership of the company with Marty.

Through work he met his wife Libertine who lived in Canada at the time with her two sisters, and married her at age 50. This is when his adventures began, traveling to the Philippines, where Libertine is from, and where he enjoyed meeting more of her family. They also travelled to China, Australia and Hawaii and took many trips, especially to Kansas City, with their good friends Don and JoAnne Abrams.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; Frank and Marie Ryan and his brother-in-law Bob Schmitz, father-in-law Juanito Reyes and sister-in-law Vheng Almazora.

Jim is survived by his wife Libertine, sister Mary and her three adult children; Paul Schmitz, his wife Nong Yang, David Schmitz and Julia Schmitz Heaney and her husband Joe Heaney. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Aurora Reyes, brothers- and sisters-in-law, Maricor and George Tonka, Roberto Almazora, Sol Reyes, Aristotle and Ellen Reyes, Joel and Cecille Reyes, Katherine and Alan Gementiza, Fr. Ulysses Reyes. His wife’s nieces and nephews, RJ Almazora, RV and Jerome Casaclang, Paula Almazora, Alexis Reyes, Alyson Reyes, Jilliane Reyes, Robby Almazora, Kyle Gementiza, Kendrick Gementiza, Jao Reyes and grand niece, Ryleigh Quinn Casaclang.

Jim was a loving and caring husband. It was a wonderful 19 years of marriage full of love and friendship. Jim was a very fine man, prim and proper, smart, intelligent, had a very good sense of humor and he was strong and brave. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. We love you Jim.

Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Church's website: www.smm-gv.org .