Elizabeth Gladys (Swenson) Ryan

Elizabeth Gladys Ryan, age 98, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at her daughters’ residence in Hayward, WI.  She was born on November 8, 1922 in California the daughter of Rudolph and Mina (Johnson) Swenson.  She was united in marriage to Charles Ryan on June 27, 1943 in Orange, CA. 

She attended school, K-12, in Garden Grove, California, followed by 2 yrs. at Fullerton Jr. College (noting that she didn’t graduate).

She met her husband, Charles, during WWII, at a local drug store in Garden Grove and they married after a brief period of dating.  At the end of the war, in 1945, they moved to Elgin, Illinois, where Charles parents lived.  They lived in Elgin two different times, with a year and a half in Champaign, in between. In 1959 they moved to Aurora, IL, where they owned and operated a Dog ‘N Suds Drive-In Restaurant, until the late 1960’s. Then began their journey north, with stops in DeKalb, IL, Winona, MN and Balsam Lake, WI. They finally settled in Hayward, WI, in the mid ‘70’s, where they purchased and operated the Burger Chief Restaurant on Main St. Mother, then spent a number of years as a Secretary for Gene McNutt at Carpe Diem Community Support, until retirement in the early 2000’s.

Her interests included Arts and Craft, particularly photographing area flora and fauna, as well as a very good skill of drawing figures, etc. In later years, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, IPad card games and TV game shows.

In her youth, she was a member of the Daughters of Rebekah/Theta Rho Girls, a branch of the Odd Fellow. Here, in Hayward, she was involved with the Loyal Order of the Moose for a number of years, as well as a life member, holding all major offices, of the VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by her children, Charline (Fred) Huwe of Hayward, WI, Patricia Warren of Hudson, WI and Keith Ryan of Eau Claire, WI; his grandchildren, Christy (Scott) Taylor, Carlos Warren and Anna (Nic) Raths; eleven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Elizabeth is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles; her son, Robert; her sisters, Eileen, Dorothy and Thelma; and her brother, Stanley in infancy.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at Hayward Funeral Home, 15571 W County Highway B in Hayward.   A memorial service will follow at 11:00 A.M. at Ascension Episcopal Church, 10610 California Avenue in Hayward.  Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Croix Hospice, 93 S Pioneer Road, Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 or Ascension Episcopal Church, 10610 California Avenue, Hayward, WI 54843.

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