Obituary of Michael Garfield Ryan

RYAN, MICHAEL GARFIELD (67) - Surrounded by love, our husband, father and papa passed away peacefully on November 28, 2015 at the Lloydminster Continuing Care in Lloydminster, AB. Mike was born in Port Hawkesbury, NS on February 14, 1948 to the late James and Georgina (LeBlanc) Ryan. In Mike’s earlier years he operated his own garage on Granville Street then went to work in Ontario and Saskatchewan at nickel and potash mines. Mike met the love of his wife, Jeannette, in Tantallon, SK and they married in 1972. Following their marriage, they welcomed daughters Melanie and Susan. In 1979, Susan passed away at the age of three, and Mike has been awaiting this heavenly reunion ever since. In 1981, Mike and his family returned to Nova Scotia. His love for the Maritimes ran deep. Their family was complete with two more daughters Carrie and Stephanie. Mike worked as a welder for Nova Scotia Power until the time of his illness in 2003. At that time, his small amount of energy and endurance was spent at home continually keeping busy out in his garage or his favorite past time enjoying his grandchildren. Mike was a devoted family man, whose favorite role was papa. He was a man who always had to be busy doing a project. He built houses and boats, restored trucks and tractors or was designing a new “invention”. He always enjoyed raising chickens and turkeys. Even his first year in a care home, Mike looked after some eggs in an incubator for one of the nurses. Mike spent much time working in his beautiful yard and garden. He took great pride in growing plants and trees from seed. Mike’s talents were immeasurable, and he used them to help others whenever he could. Always dropping what he was doing to help out his daughters and family. His garage at home was always open to anyone needing something welded, lending a hand to fix something, or just a talk. Many will remember Mike for his love of music. Starting at a very young age and right through till he passed there was always a guitar by his side. He would play his guitar at any opportunity, and loved nothing more than to have someone sing or play along with him. He was so delighted when his grandchildren would pick a tune with him. Mike is survived by his loving wife, Jeannette (Henderson); his daughters Melanie (Rick) MacEachern, Carrie MacNeil, Stephanie Ryan (Brent VanLangen); grandchildren Allyson MacEachern, Dylan & Owen MacNeil all of Lloydminster, AB; Brothers - Charlie (Sadie), Hubert, Lonnie (Alines), Phonse (Heather), Ken (Helen), Mike (Shelma), Edward; Sisters Mae Ryan, Edwina (Jerry) Bennett, Rita Ryan, Adeline (Junior) Snair, Jean (George) Cook, Diane (Jack) Hoben, Marie (Johnny MacKinnon); Brother-In-Laws Hughie (Pat) Henderson, Ron (Laurie) Henderson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is joined in Heaven with his parents James and Georgina Ryan, brother Melvin Ryan, sister Betty Cleverdon; mother and father-in-law James & Margaret Henderson, brother-in-law Bruno Weinheimer, sisters-in-law-Phyllis Weinheimer, Janice Henderson, Judy Gibbon; niece Kristen Ryan; nephews- Edmund Ryan, Cory Godwin, Jason Henderson. Awaiting his arrival in heaven were his two special angels- daughter Susan and grandson Andrew MacEachern. Oh how their reunion would have been beautiful! Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation. Funeral service will be held in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Port Hawkesbury, NS at 10 a.m., Saturday Dec 12, 2015 with Father Conrad Edwards officiating. A reception will take place immediately following the funeral service in the church hall. Burial at a later date in Valley View Cemetery in Tantallon, SK. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be made to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation or Parkinson’s Society Canada.