Keith Ryan, age 77, of Cambridge, died October 3, 2014 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. A memeorial service will be held at 1 P.M. on Thursday, October 9th at our Cambridge Chapel with Chaplain Len Ochowicz officiating. Friends may gather 1 hour before the service on Thursday.
Keith Alan Ryan was born January 15, 1937 in St. Paul to Arthur and Beatrice (Niemi) Ryan. Because of his father’s work, he attended 17 different schools and graduated in 1955 from Riverdale High School in Riverdale, North Dakota. After high school he took some college classes in Mankato and learned arc welding. Keith served in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1962. He was an amateur and professional boxer for the Marine Corps. July 11, 1959 he married Patricia Geottlicher at Lyola Catholic Church in Mankato. He was employed as a crane operator and was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 49, as were his father, uncles, brother, son, and grandfather. He was a well known crane operator and was called in often times for specialty jobs. He even left retirement to help on special crane operations. He received many safety awards for operating cranes for 36 years without any accidents. He spent three years in Surinam, South America teaching the locals how to operate heavy equipment. These are men of the jungle of Surinam on a lock and dam and power house project for Alcoa Aluminum Company. They learned how to processes their own Bauxite.
At the age of 34, Keith started racing Motocross and Enduro Motorcycles, A Class and Senior Class. He rode until he was 68 years old, winning many trophies and first place races were won. He also enjoyed skiing, was a Ski Patrol at Sugar Hills, downhill and cross country. Keith hunted deer and bear with bow and arrow, fished, loved the outdoors, hiking and working out at the YMCA 4 days a week. He lived every minute of his life to the limit. He didn’t have an enemy in the world and was a wonderful husband and father.
Keith died October 3, 2014 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West in Cambridge at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 18 days. He was preceded in death by his parents and 1 brother, David.
Keith is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia; children, Timothy (Sandra) Ryan of Cloquet, Candace (Frank) Buttimer of Alamogordo, New Mexico; special person, Kathy Niemi of Cambridge; 3 grandchildren, Amanda Stripplin, Krysti Sorenson, Meghan Ryan; 3 great-grandchildren, Colton Stripplin, Mason and Ryan Sorenson; 6 brothers and sisters in law, Gary (Sarah) Goettlicher of Orange Park, FL, Janet Gall of Mankato, Bill (Nancy) Bartell of Mankato, Gregory (Gayle) Goettlicher of Good Thunder, MN, Dennis (Judy) Stover of Mankato, Christopher (Judy) Goettlicher of Mankato; and many other relatives and friends.
We go so far back and shared so many wonderful times. When we told our daughter she said “we almost lived with Ryan’s for so many years.” We camped together, raced motorcycles together and got together most weekends in between .Keith hunted everything, Pat could cook anything and we ALWAYS answered the call to eat. I’ll never forget the turtle Keith had secured to the tree. Ryan’s
move to Grand Rapids put miles between us but we still seemed to get up or down for get togethers.
We have wonderful memories and feel very blessed to have this family as friends.
Dear Pat and Family, we were so sorry to hear about Keith, we happen to be up at Terry Lynn’s and Deneace’s, before we head for AZ., and we are waiting for our 2nd great grand daughter to be born today or soon, Jack was talking to Bob Peterson, from Isanti, ( they used to work together.) and he asked if we knew Keith, we were so surprised, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, am so sorry that this is the way to get in contact with you, Take care, Love Jack and Sally