Memorial
With great sadness we announce the passing of John Nelson Ryal, who died on July 16, 2025 at the age of 76.
John was born on December 2, 1948 in Lansing, Michigan to Ralph and Pauline (Hackney) Ryal. His boyhood was rich with extended family. When Ralph was moved by the Holy Spirit, he took the family to Springfield, MO to answer the ministerial call. John enjoyed his teen years as a star on a championship football team at Springfield Central High. Following John’s junior year, Ralph was once again called by the Holy Spirit. This call was to Marion, Iowa. John’s dream for a winning football team wasn’t meant to be but he made such an impression on his new classmates that they elected him president of the Marion High School Class of 1967.
John attended UNI to play football, study music, and live large. To focus on the latter two, he had to quit the former. During his music studies he met a beautiful young soprano, Linda Krumm and then rechanneled his energies of living large to singular devotion and adoration for the warbling farm girl who stole his heart. John graduated in 1970 and began his vocal music teaching career at Franklin Junior High, he retired from Franklin Middle School in 2005. He and Linda married in 1972. They were blessed with two children. A sturdy oak tree of a man who was multifaceted and so musically talented. He had a presence, love and devotion for many things and many people. He inspired goodness, grace, faith, trust, and confidence in other people. He was okay with someone eating the entire sandwich, taking a different path, and singing out of tune because that is where you grow.
John started Franklin’s first show choir “FLAPCO”, conducted numerous junior high choral festivals, was the first conductor of the Cedar Rapids Discovery Chorus, a lifetime member of the American Choral Directors Association and was a guest soloist for the Cedar Rapids Symphony and Orchestra Iowa. He earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa, participated in many TCR productions, cantored at Temple Judah, directed sacred music at First Lutheran and Our Saviors, sang the National Anthem for decades at the annual Special Olympics track and field meet at Coe College, was a faithful member of Choral Midwest, served on the Foster Care Review Board, attended religiously all of his children’s activities, and kept singing with Linda. They were an unwavering team of steadfast love, loyalty and grit.
In retirement he could finally keep up on all things sports and enjoyed as much time as he could with his grandchildren. His golden years were encumbered by Parkinson’s. But he had the patience of Job and the faith of Paul to live without complaint.
John was preceded in death by his parents and infant granddaughter Maggie Hanson. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Linda, son Ian (Jennifer) Ryal, daughter Meghan (John) Hanson. Grandchildren Lilly and Jack Ryal, and Ryal and Owen Hanson. Brothers Patrick (Bonnie) and Scott (Nancy). Sisters in Law, Joan (Mike) Runyan, Anedra (Lowell) Sherwood, Renita (Doug) Meredith, and Deanna Barnes. As well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
John’s Celebration of Life service with special music will be held in the sanctuary of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion at 4pm on Friday August 1, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation Endowment Award (Note: “John Ryal FLAPCO”) https://crcsf.com/donate/ or Cedar Rapids Metro Parkinson’s Association.
Thank you to Hallmar Village, Mercy Hospice, and Dr. Melanie Stahlberg.