Obituary of Daniel J. Ryan

Daniel Joseph Ryan (Dan), 73, of Plainfield passed away at home among family on Sept. 20, 2016. Dan was born the youngest of seven Irish brothers to Lillian Gaffney and John Ryan in Chicago, IL. He grew up in the Gage Park neighborhood of Chicago and served in the United States Army for three years. Upon discharge, he courted his soulmate Connie Ahrendt (Ryan) over dates to Riverview Amusement Park and shows at the Bel-Air Drive-In while eating Home Run Inn pizza. They married in 1968. Dan enjoyed working as a printer at the University of Chicago Press for many years and was a longtime resident of Richton Park while raising his family. In addition to imparting the importance of family, faith and values to his four children, he also instilled in them a love for White Sox baseball. An unforgettable highlight of his life was being in Houston with his sons to watch the White Sox win the World Series in 2005. A brick bearing his name remains as an eternal memorial outside Sox Park. Dan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Connie; children Ken (Susan), Becky (Ray), Dave (Christina), and Phil; grandchildren Kristine, Jay, Cecil, David, Ethan, Jason, Audra, and Blake; brothers Bob, Bill, Pat (Rena) and Gene; niece Cindy (like a daughter); mother-in-law Jeanne Ahrendt; brother-in-law Randy Ahrendt; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jack and Bud, and sister-in-laws Kay, Jackie, Sadonna, and Pat. Dan enjoyed a good conversation, a good pastrami sandwich, Italian ice, The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and was a standout bags player (Catchphrase was another story). The Dan Ryan Expressway may not have been named for our Dan, but please feel free to remember him whenever you drive it. Visitation and services will be held on Friday, Sept. 23 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11:30 a.m. at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Roads, Joliet, IL. The family will also host a luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. at Al’s Steakhouse, 1990 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL. Interment will take place privately at a later date. For many years, due to a heart condition, Dan waited for a heart through organ donation. Later, he survived and thrived (“Grandpa runs on batteries!”) with an LVAD. In lieu of flowers, please consider registering to be an organ/tissue donor at www.LifeGoesOn.com or www.DonateLife.net, or making a donation to the Heart Failure Society of America at www.hfsa.org. For information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com.