Frances “Fritz” Marie (Albers) Ryan, was born to Joseph C and Walburga (Dickman) Albers on January 22, 1939, and was released into the love of our Heavenly Father on April 30, 2024. She joined her heart to Dennis Ryan on May 25, 1957, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley (but only after he taught her to drink coffee-he said they couldn’t get married until she would drink coffee with him). They were blessed with 9 children: Angela (Jack) Myers, Alan (Sherri) Ryan, Cynthia (Frank)DeRee, Monique (Tom) Leavitt, Maureen (Tom) Bruggeman, Paula (Butch) Burris, Phillip (Alaina) Ryan, and Sharon Ryan, who are all left on this earth to continue the legacy of “The Ryan Brats.” Kevin (Elda) Ryan joined Dad (Dennis) in heaven to help prepare the way for Mom’s arrival.
“The Ryan Brats” of Denny and Fritz produced 25 grandchildren and 1 angel granddaughter,* and those 25 went on to bless Fritz with many more: Rianna & Erick (Frances, Katherine, Jacqueline), John (Kimber), Audrey & Travis (Sydney Haley, Kinsey [Dawson]), Megan & Chris (Aiden, Cass, Cain), Joshua & Michelle (Leah, Parker, Knox) Kayla & Travis (Oliver), Allyson & Kirk (Samantha, Luke) Greg, Alainna, Matthew & Janessa (Beckett, Bryar, Brodie), Garrett & Anne, Ashley & Brandon (Wyatt), Andrew & Melissa (Jaelyn, Nash), Alicia & Brandon (Kamryn, Koen) *Alexandria, Alison & Jake (Ellis, Beau), Clay & Kathy (Vanessa), Kalinda & Brock (Bonnie), Chase, Marc (Madilynn, Graesyn), Jordan (Destiny & Key [Kyro], Bryson), Aimee & Justin (Junior) Nicole (Juliet, Catalyna, Karsen), Alexa & Adam(Kincaid, Breccan, Avalyn, Aidan), Colby & Hunter, Clint & Taryn.
9 of her 13 siblings are also still on this earth, Bernard (Carolyn), Joan Lobmeyer, Mary Jean (Don Delzeit) Ann, Henry (Donna), Bob (Patsy), Rosanne (Marvin Labarge) Fred (Jenny) and Carla (John Deckert).
Siblings Ronnie, Cash, Frank, and Reinette have been preparing the way for her. (Frank probably put a frog in her halo).
She also leaves behind these siblings through love: Joe Schoepner, Annie Ostmeyer, David Ryan, Ethel Ortiz, and Judith Sears.
Mom lived a lot of life in the dashes between her birth and death. We won’t list everything she did and was, because we can’t find a publisher with enough paper to print it all. Oh how we will miss her, but we are joyous with the knowledge that when she closed her eyes for the last time on earth, she opened them to the Glory of His kingdom, and she will be very busy-for she has a lot of catching up to do with all her loved ones who went before her.
Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Baalmann Mortuary in Colby. Mass of Christian Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby on Saturday, May 4th at 10:00 am, with burial in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to either St. Joseph Catholic School in Oakley, or Sacred Heart Catholic School in Colby and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com.