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Father F. Lee Ryan

FUNERAL HOME

Baier Funeral Home

102 W Oak St

Watseka, Illinois

F. Lee Ryan Obituary

Father F. Lee Ryan, 83, of Watseka, IL, passed away on Friday, September 02, 2016.
He was born on August 14, 1933 in Kinsman, IL, the son of Leo Ryan and Hildegard (Coughlin) Ryan.
Mr. Ryan was in the Army. After completing his time in the Army he attended U of I, transferring over to Conception Seminary Conception Missouri where he received his Masters of Theology. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1968. He was a priest at St. Edmunds Catholic Church in Watseka for over 20 years. He was also a Chaplin and Chaplin emeritus for the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed gardening and traveling.
Surviving Father F. Lee Ryan is one brother, Maurice and Sue Ryan of Palm Harbor, FL; one sister, Leona Myers of Dwight, IL; two nieces and nephews; Jane and Steve Fritsch, Michael and Kelly Myers, Kelly and Jeff Heckman, and Kevin and Carrie Ryan.
He is also preceded in death by both his parents; and one brother-in-law, Richard "Dick" Myers.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from 3-7pm, at Baier Funeral Home in Watseka.
Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 10:00 am, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Clifton. Father Vern Arseneau will officiate.
Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Ransom, IL.
Memorials in Father F. Lee Ryan's name can be made to St. Edmunds Catholic Church.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Times Republic from Sep. 2 to Sep. 7, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for F. Lee Ryan

27 Entries

Paul Daniels

August 27, 2024

8 years have passed.
Not a day goes by that I don't refer to you or tell you I miss you.
You were more than a mentor. You were my friend, my spiritual guide, my Yoda.
My father ,you, and Bud were my go to guys.
Now you guys are up there and I'm left to live in respect to you.
I love you Father. I promised to never forget you.
I saw you that day at Epcot.
I knew you were checking in on me. I just wished you had stuck around. I needed a hug and to hear your voice.
Rest well, till we meet again.

Paul Daniels

September 2, 2021

Not a day goes by in the last 5 years i dont talk to you.
I miss your voice, your love, your energy, i miss you!!
Love you Father

September 14, 2016

Father Lee was a great inspiration to me. He meant the world to me. I had some issues as a teenager and he helped guide me in the right path. He didn't judge me. He just became a friend. I held the utmost respect for him and cherished him throughout my life. I moved to Omaha, Ne area about 11 years ago and kept in touch with Father Lee. I married my husband in 2012 and Father Lee came and did a blessing ceremony for us in Watseka. (Photo attached and he looked wonderful). When my grandmother passed in Jan 2014 I called on him and he came to console my family in the hospital. I am forever grateful. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Love, Rachel Pierce (Kaufman)

Thomas Mostyn

September 9, 2016

Father Ryan was a wonderful priest, teacher, and friend. I was blessed to have been one of his Religion class students my Senior year at Providence High School (Class of 1975). No matter how badly your day seemed to be going you walked out of his classroom inspired with a smile on your face! He was always available to talk to you one on one as a friend and confidant. Whether you ran into him years, or even decades, later he always remembered you and greeted you as a beloved friend. A few years ago we had reconnected and had some wonderful phone conversations catching up on events in our lives and the fun memories of the high school. He chuckled when I told him that I knew he had to be a "Cool Priest" because back in those days he drove a black Camaro to school! Until we meet again my friend! Bless you!!

September 8, 2016

Our Buddy Lee, We will always carry you in our hearts, our friend, our mentor, & our inspiration. You were always there for so many of us in our awkward years at Providence. You guided us through some rough moments with laughter and courage. You never gave up. My sister and I have always remembered you in our prayers and our thoughts & conversations so often. High school was great because of you. Rest in peace, our dear friend. Lynn Stoiber Mattioli (Minneapolis) and Bernie Stoiber (San Diego)

Laura Lasocki

September 8, 2016

Rest in peace Father Ryan,prayers for you and your family. Such a wonderful Priest and friend. Had him for my religion class at Providence. He Christen all 3 of my children at St. Anne's in Crest Hill, Illinois.

Patty Kulesza

September 7, 2016

Love you Fr. Lee!

Patty Pesavento-Kulesza

September 7, 2016

Fr. Lee was a dear friend of mine who was a huge spiritual mento and much loved friend. He had been at St. Anne's in Crest Hill from the time I was a little girl through my college years. He truly was a gifted man of God and brought the light of Christ through his beautiful and unique way of worship! I remember his love of fall, the candles on the alter in the dark church and his gorgeous music, especially his love of Neil Diamond! I had the honor to work for him, sing many masses for him and love him dearly! Sending my deepest sympathy to his family! May you rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father my friend and may you be comforted my your love of The queen of heaven, Mary! Rest in peace, in love and respect you will never be forgotten!

Eleanor Kuhn Tomasula

September 7, 2016

Dear Leona, Maurie and Sue, I am so sorry to learn of the passing of Fr. Lee. He was a man of deep faith who helped many people. I remember a few times being in Kinsman when Fr. Lee said Mass at Sacred Heart. Great Homilies!! I am sure you miss him very much. My prayers for all in your family.

Vicki & Terry Regnier

September 7, 2016

The loss of Father Lee is a very sad one. He will be greatly missed.

Mary Jane Griffin Sadowski

September 6, 2016

Fr. Lee Ryan was an amazing man and teacher. He brought Jesus Christ into the hearts of all teenagers at Providence H.S. Fr. Ryan was down-to-earth and understood teenagers and their struggles to mature. Fr. Ryan was a Godly man filled with spirituality and love of the Catholic teachings. Fr. Ryan was full of humor, kindness, and love. I respect Fr. Ryan as a Holy Ordained Priest living and teaching God's life to all. Thank you for all that you did for the love of God. Rest in Peace my friend.

Fr. Rey Treyes

September 6, 2016

Fr. Lee welcomed me to the area when I started working at Beaverville and now in Gilman and Piper city.

Paul Daniels

September 6, 2016

Father Lee was one of my dearest friends for the last 30 years. He baptized me at St. Liborious in 1970. We became friends in 1987 and have been very close since. I will miss you everyday of the rest of my life Father Lee. You became such a profound model in my life. You taught me so much, you forgot how to teach me how to live without your friendship. I love you Father, I'll never forget you.

September 5, 2016

Fr. Lee married me and my husband in 2003. He was the best priest I've ever had.
Mary Beth Foster Firestone (Dayton oh)

Michele Hallock

September 4, 2016

Father Lee was a blessing and a comfort to so many,especially in their time of need. We were so blessed to have had you in our lives.

Michael Erickson

September 4, 2016

Fr. Ryan taught me at Providence High School.
He made Senior Religion class very interesting.He was a great man may he rest in peace. My deepest sympathies to his family.

Teri Kovarik

September 4, 2016

I couldn't wait to be a senior so I could be in Fr Ryan's class. He knew how to speak to teenagers. He knew how to speak to people. He had the biggest heart. The world is going to be a little bit darker without him. I wish RIP meant Return If Possible. God bless you Fr. Ryan. You will be missed.

September 4, 2016

Father Ryan was always my sanity, a priest that did not judge, but helped. I will always miss you.

David and Pamila Harvey

September 4, 2016

RIP you were a great priest and a good friend.

Margaret Crane/Crosman

September 4, 2016

Father Lee and I grew up in the same area. Our group had a lot of fun. He taught my son at Providence High School. My deepest sympathy to his family.

September 4, 2016

Father Lee helped a young man feel welcomed, as I didn't know very many people. He was a true friend and I'm blessed to have known him. RIP

September 4, 2016

So sorry to hear. Fr. Lee was a great man. He gave his life to God and served all of us. Peace.

Carol Doyle-Woolard

September 3, 2016

Dear Fr. Ryan...he was the 'cool' priest at Providence Catholic High School. I remember he helped me with some teenage relationship drama. I knew him to be a good man, one who wanted to help. Thank you Fr. Ryan. RIP.

September 3, 2016

Father Lee confirmed my husband and married my daughter. He was a blessing to our family.

Pam Martin

September 3, 2016

Father Lee was such an important part of our family's life. He was an inspiration and a joy to celebrate God's love! He will be missed. We thank God for blessing us with his friendship. Rest in His love dear Father Lee.

Steve Nagele

September 3, 2016

We loved to go to masses. He was a great man. He will be greatly missed. God Bless Father Lee Ryan.

Chris Warren

September 3, 2016

What a great guy. Truly unique. One time, when I was going through some hard stuff, years after high school, I called him up and asked if I could meet up with him and just talk about my life at the time. We met for lunch, and he provided concern, solace, and most of all, that lively sense of humor which, I believe, anyone who has known him cherished above all. Rest in peace, Father Ryan.

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