Michael D. Ryan

Sergeant (Retired) Michael (Mike) D. Ryan, 67, of Savanna, IL. passed away at his home on November 4, 2018. He was born on November 18, 1950 in Chicago to William (Bill) Aloysius and Jane Mary McNichols Ryan. Mike attended Ascension Grammar School and Oak Park High School, graduating in 1969. He enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1969. Upon graduation from Navy Basic Training at Great Lakes, Mike reported to Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA. and was assigned to BUDS class 48E. Training was completed in April 1970.

Throughout the next 32 years, Mike served in both active and reserve component Navy and Army organizations. He completed 28 military schools during his career including Underwater Swimmers (Key West), Airborne (Fort Benning), Parachute Rigger (Fort Lee), and NBC Warfare (Fort McClellan).

Mike graduated from Triton College, River Grove, IL. in 1979 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Following graduation he was a Deputy Sheriff for Dupage County through 1984.

In 1990, Mike volunteered for active duty service for Desert Shield/Desert Storm and served in the theater of operations from February to August 1991. Following the Desert Storm Navy drawdown, Mike joined the United States Army Reserves, Forest Park, IL. Upon completing some initial school training, he was assigned to the 12 Special Forces Group, Arlington Heights, IL. His final assignments included duty as the NCO in charge of the Opposition Forces at Fort McCoy, WI., and Camp Ripley, MN. Mike retired from the Armed Services (Army and Navy) of the United States on November 18, 2010.

Over the last 6 years, Mike has been a lead volunteer for fundraising for the Seal Foundation, raising thousands of dollars through the Frogs for Freedom motorcycle run, Chicago, IL. Other volunteer activities include the Illinois Freedom Run, American Motorcycle Riders Association, Illinois USO. Mike is a member of the UDT/Seal Association, the National UDT/Seal Museum, Fort Pierce, FL., and the Pritzker Military Library, Chicago, IL.

Siblings COL(R) William A. (Linda) Ryan, Jr of Orlando, FL, Mary Kathleen (Lawrence) McCahill of Oak Park, IL, Mary Eileen (Robert) Altier of Westchester, IL, Jane (Glenn) Zilligen of Keller, TX, and Mary Margaret (Anthony) Daly of Forest Park, IL and sisters in law Kathy Ryan of Kankakee, IL, and Terry Ryan of LaGrange, IL, survive Mike. His son, Michael D. Ryan Jr. and his brothers, James Ambrose and Richard Kennedy, preceded him in death. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends survive him.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 16 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Gamboney and Son Funeral Directors at the Peterson-Bassi Funeral Home in Chicago Illinois. A military service will take place at 7pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park (mass time pending). Interment will take place at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, Ft. Pierce Florida in November of 2019.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, 3300 North Highway A1A, Ft. Pierce, Florida, 34949 are appreciated.