Jon R. Ryan

1947 - 2009

BETTENDORF, Iowa - Jon R. Ryan, 61, Bettendorf, Iowa, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Bettendorf of natural causes.
A service to celebrate his life will be at 2 p.m. today, Aug. 22, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 18th Street and Mississippi Boulevard, Bettendorf. The family will greet friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Scott County Humane Society or Bettendorf Rotary Club to be used for the distribution of Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to families in need. McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf is assisting the family with arrangements.
He was born Nov. 1, 1947, in Galesburg, the son of Roy and Ann (Swanson) Ryan. Jon received his bachelor of arts degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, and earned his master of arts degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb. He served in the 85th Division Army Reserves of Rock Island from 1970 to 1977 when he was honorably discharged as a sergeant first class.
On May 16, 2000, he was united in marriage to Beth Ries in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Jon became the state director of the Iowa Small Business Development Center in 2003 after 17 years as the director of the Small Business Development Center at the Eastern Iowa Community College District. He worked as a consultant after he left there in 2007.
He also served as chairman of Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was a Second Ward alderman in Bettendorf from 1975 to 1987. In addition, he was a member of Bettendorf Rotary Club where he served as chairman of the Paul Harris Fellowship Foundation. Jon also served as chairman of the Mayor's Task Force on Downtown Bettendorf Development and co-chaired the Bettendorf Centennial committee.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Beth; his close cousin, Harriet Olson of Moline; his mother-in-law, Monica Ries of Clinton, Iowa; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbe and Robert McGee of Clinton; his sister-in-law, Mary Ries of Clinton; his nieces and nephews, Matthew (Katie) McGee and their daughter, Izabella of Longmont, Colo.; Patrick McGee of New York City; Johnny McGee of Clinton; Brad Ries Jr. of Clinton; Tricia (Jason) Todtz and their children, Caden and Dylan of Clinton; Eric Ries of Clinton; several other cousins; and his beloved kitties, Jingles, Prince Harry, and Itty Bitty.
His parents, grandparents, his father-in-law, William Ries, and his brother-in-law, Bradley Ries, preceded Jon in death.
Condolences may be expressed to the family by viewing Jon's obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.