Lt. Col. Patrick L. Ryan

Lt. Col. Patrick Ryan, age 55, of Bettendorf, Iowa, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His visitation will be held at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 9-11am until the time of services. A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 11am. The livestream may be viewed and online remembrances expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. His burial with full military honors will follow at the National Cemetery in Rock Island. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

Patrick Louis Ryan was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Lewellyn and Leota Ryan. He married his loving wife, Stacey Schroeder, on October 1st, 1994, in Bettendorf, and together they shared 30 years and a beautiful family.

Patrick earned his B.S. in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Iowa State University in 1993, followed by an M.S. in Electronics Engineering Technology and an MBA in Operations Management Science from the University of North Texas in 2002. Most recently, he earned his Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, graduating on June 6th, 2024.

At the time of his passing, Patrick worked as a Senior Operational Plans Analyst at the Army Sustainment Command (ASC). Patrick’s long and versatile career was a testament to his passion for service. Patrick began his career as a helicopter mechanic in 1987, transitioning to medical evacuation crew chief from 1990-1993. From 1992-2001, Patrick worked in the Telecom industry as a project and plant manager. 

In 2002, Patrick joined the Defense Contract Management Agency. He spent several years in the Chemical Corps from 2004-2012, a time he fondly remembered, even adopting the symbol of the Dragon (the Corps’ mascot) as a personal favorite. He displayed a tattoo of the Chemical Corps on his shoulder, and his home was adorned with dragon stuffed animals. 

In 2016-2017, Patrick deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, as part of the Logistics Task Force (401st AFSB). While there, Patrick earned the Bronze Star Medal for his exceptionally meritorious service. Later, in 2019-2020, Patrick served in Wiesbaden, Germany, as the NATO Logistics Functional Services Coordinator. From 2020-2024, Patrick served as the Battalion Commander for the 3rd LOGCAP Support Battalion in Birmingham, Alabama. Throughout these years, Patrick also held a prominent role with the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, where he served as a Division Chief for the Demilitarization and Ammunition Peculiar Equipment Execution Division.

Beyond his professional life, Patrick’s greatest joy came from his love of adventure and his time surrounded by family. As those who knew him can lovingly recall, Patrick had “happy feet.” He loved to travel and lived in a variety of places throughout his life, including Texas, Brazil, England, Washington, and Iowa. However, Patrick’s travels weren’t just about seeing new places–they were about immersing himself in different cultures. For example, during his time in Brazil, Patrick became fluent in Portuguese. A charismatic and curious man, he had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life and made friends all across the world.

After spending time in the United States Forces in Korea, his love for Korea was particularly deep, and he often cooked Korean food at home while eagerly anticipating his next trip there. These travels were also an opportunity for Patrick to share his experiences with his family, taking his children to destinations like Barcelona and Korea, where they made lifelong memories together.

No matter where he was in the world, Patrick loved being in the kitchen. Patrick was a natural chef. The Food Network was often on in the background of the Ryan household, with Patrick loving shows like Good Eats, Iron Chef, and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. His love of grilling knew no bounds–he was as likely to be found manning the grill in the depths of winter as he was in the summer heat. Some fan-favorite dishes include the following: Korma and naan, Peking duck, maple walnut ravioli, porcupine meatballs, and Spanish octopus. Friday nights were reserved for homemade pizza, a family tradition. Never one to hide his talents, Patrick always shared his love of cooking with others; his cooking brought people together, and those who knew him will fondly remember the laughter-filled meals they shared with him.

Patrick was also an avid runner and cyclist, completing marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, and the famous RAGBRAI. He loved weekend bike rides with his family. But when it came to relaxing, Patrick found joy in the simple things–watching quirky B movies like Big Trouble in Little China or cooking while listening to his beloved vinyl records, which he “borrowed” from his siblings over the years. Patrick knew good music–music was a constant in his life, and he had a lifelong passion for it. He sang in the choir and played tuba in the high school band, even earning a spot in the Iowa All-State Honor Band.

Patrick will be remembered in his standard, year-round outfit: cargo shorts, a Hawaiian fish shirt, and flip-flops. To Patrick, pants are reserved for special occasions. 

As his wife summarizes, “Patrick was the one constant in our lives no matter where we were. We could always rely on him to tell a bad joke or cook a delicious dinner. He will be dearly missed.”

Those left to honor his memory include his wife Stacey; children Kaitlyn and Issy; mother Leota; and siblings Perry (Vic) Ryan, Noreen Krick, Kelley (Dan) Maher, Shawn (Deana) Ryan, Mike (Kay) Ryan, and Jamie Ryan.