James Timothy Ryan, age 78, died October 10, 2025. He had experienced the effects of dementia for a number of years.

Jim came from a close, loving family and was preceded  in death by his mother, Jeanette, and his father, Timothy, and his brother, Joseph Ryan. He grew up in South St. Louis, and he had many fond memories of those years with his immediate family along with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

Jim spent his career in service of others. He worked for 28 years at the St. Louis County Family Court and retired as the Director of Child Abuse/Neglect and the Detention Center. Jim then began a yearlong faith-based volunteer program for young adults for the Vincentian Priests and Brothers. He welcomed the first group of Gateway Vincentian Volunteers in 2000 and continued as the GVV Director until his final retirement in 2012. As a retiree, he volunteered with DePaul USA, a program that provides permanent, supportive housing to homeless individuals. Jim loved checking in on clients and taking them grocery shopping and to various appointments, etc. He continued volunteering until he was no longer able.

Jim was a man of great faith, and for many years he was an active member of St. Vincent DePaul Parish and an Affiliate of the Midwest Province of the Vincentian Priests and Brothers. He was a quiet man but one with a wonderful dry wit, who often liked to play little jokes on people. He had a fierce sense of justice and cared deeply about those who live on the margins. He loved his family and valued time with them. He was generous, kind, funny, loyal, and steadfast, and he fought dementia with everything he had for years.

Jim leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Geralyn (Kassing) Ryan and his sister-in-law, Sharon Ryan. He will be deeply missed by the many people who loved him.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on November 6, 2025, at 10 A.M. at St. Vincent DePaul Church, 1408 S. 10th, St. Louis.

In honor of Jim,  you may consider making a donation to DePaul USA, 2904 Arsenal Street, Saint Louis, MO 63118.