David Joseph Ryan was called to heaven on November 26, 2024 after a short battle with glioblastoma. Born on February 4, 1951 in Oak Park, IL to Harry I. and Dorothy Ryan, he was the oldest of five children. He was a devoted husband to Dee Ann, his wife of 41 years, the best dad and grandpa in the world, and an irreplaceable brother and friend.

Dave was smart, funnier than heck, and a devout Catholic. He attended elementary school at Ascension School in Oak Park, IL and graduated from Quigley North High School in Chicago, IL in 1969, Loyola University in 1973, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law in 1976. He worked as an attorney in Danville, IL, his adopted hometown, for 42 years, as an Assistant State’s Attorney and longtime partner at the law firm Dukes Ryan Meyer & Freed. Through his law practice, he was able to help many people in important and private ways, and he was a regular source of levity and laughter at the Vermilion County Courthouse. His true purpose in life was making people smile, and he often said that if he didn’t tease you, you wouldn’t know he loved you. Dave was a parishioner of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and lived out his faith by loving his neighbors and being of service to others. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, Chair of the Merit Commission, Secretary of the Election Commission, Volunteer Judge with Peer Court, former President of the Schlarman School Board, and former President of the Danville Sunrise Rotary and also provided pro bono work for Land of Lincoln Legal Aid. Prior to his passing, he taught 7th and 8th grade religion at Schlarman Academy, where he got a kick out of his students and was known for buying them donuts.   

Dave’s hobbies and interests helped make him who he was. He was a food genius who valued few things in life more than eating. From childhood, he enjoyed family vacations to Eagle River, WI and would look for any excuse to make a trip Up North – whether it was the annual family vacation, a trip with his friends to celebrate high school graduation, to treat his bride to a one-night honeymoon, or to prank his siblings. He loved cars from a young age and was often in trouble with Dee Ann for buying and selling them too frequently. He could be seen in a suit riding his motorcycle to work, tie flapping behind him. He also enjoyed sailing – even if not every boat he owned was fit to make it out on the water. At his core, he was the true definition of a family man, and all of his interests came secondary to the whims of his girls, the tradition of Sunday night dinners, and gathering the family at his cabin in Leisure Time.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Ann Ryan; daughters, Katie Osterbur (Colin), Maggie Crane (Josh), and Mary Beth Clapper (Kyle); granddaughters, Emma Osterbur, Sophie Osterbur, Claire Crane, and one on the way; best friend of over 50 years Ken Stepke; siblings Mary Ann Ryan (Sarah Griesse), Steve Ryan, and Don Ryan; sister-in-law Jackie Gollay Ryan; and many other close friends, in-laws, and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard Ryan, and sister-in-law Cindi Ryan.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Saturday, November 30, at 1 PM, preceded by a viewing starting at 10 AM at the Motsett Center. Following the funeral and burial at Resurrection Cemetery, a celebration of life will be held at Turtle Run Banquet Center at 4 PM, where we will gather to share cherished memories of Dave. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Schlarman Academy to support Catholic education in our community.

We will carry the loss of Dave with us for the rest of our lives, and we feel so lucky to have been loved by him.  

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