Dr. Dennis K. Ryan of La Crosse, age 86, passed peacefully away on June 5, 2026, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on September 30, 1939, in New Ulm, Minnesota, to Terrance and Geneva (Janisch) Ryan. He graduated in 1957 from St. Paul (Minnesota) Harding High School. His strongly developed work ethic resulted in him graduating as valedictorian of his class while simultaneously helping raise his younger siblings. This achievement in turn helped earn him a full scholarship to Macalester College, St. Paul, MN – the first in his family to go to college.

Dennis was grateful to Macalester his entire life. Not only did this full scholarship open many doors, including his subsequent career as a physician, but Macalester introduced him to the love of his life, Sharon (Bouley) Ryan. He often told the story of seeing a beautiful redhead stepping off the bus and being instantly smitten. They began their 66-year marriage on August 20, 1960. Sharon helped him get through calculus and put him through medical school by working as a medical technologist, while also being primary caregiver to their two children (Scott and Cathy), born during college and medical school.

His graduation from University of Minnesota Medical School fell during the Vietnam War. After a medical internship in Los Angeles, he spent 3 years (1967-1970) in the Army Medical Corps in Butzbach, West Germany. He loved his time in Germany, particularly traveling around Europe in the family VW squareback with a couple olive drab canvas tents and a few sleeping bags thrown in the back. Sharon also discovered a passion for travel, but was admittedly less enthused about being an Army wife and not being able to work in her healthcare career. She began to resonate with the women’s liberation movement sweeping the US in the late 1960s. It took Dennis a few years to catch up with her in that way, but eventually he got there and was an enthusiastic proponent for women’s rights and many other social justice causes.

After the Army, Dennis completed an ophthalmology residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He had fallen in love with this specialty late in medical school, and his interest was confirmed when his daughter developed eye issues while in Germany. At the end of residency, he spent 3 months in Nigeria performing eye surgeries, the first of multiple medical mission trips, which later included trips to Lima, Peru (Casa Hogar).

In 1974, he began his long and happy 30-year career at Gundersen Clinic. He introduced new cutting-edge cataract surgery techniques to La Crosse (now standard). He also focused his practice on pediatric ophthalmology, well before it was a recognized

subspecialty. He gave the gift of restored vision to tens of thousands of Coulee Region residents. His patients and their parents fondly recall his dedication and his warm and personable care. His colleagues may recall his cymbal-banging monkey toy with less fondness (he did whatever was needed to get the attention of young patients)! He truly loved and felt privileged to do this work, and often said that he could not have imagined a better career nor a better place to practice.

When not working (which he was most of the time), he could be found running (year-round), biking, traveling, canoeing, listening to folk music or public radio, and curling. Dennis won many interclub mixed curling trophies with Sharon, plus friends Paul and Ann Henke. He was evangelical in recruiting others to try the great sport of curling, and enjoyed watching bonspiels to the end of his days. He was also an early adopter of running for fitness and particularly enjoyed running and walking with his dog, Lady.

Lady was just one of a series of accidental family pets. Dennis never actually sought out a pet, but when dogs and cats somehow found the family over the years, he took care of them as he cared for so many others, and loved and missed them long-term afterwards.

Dennis and Sharon lived simply, without a fancy car or house. Worldwide travel was their only splurge. Dennis was ever generous with his time and money to support those in need, whether family or strangers. He never failed to recognize how fortunate he was and how the generosity of others had contributed to his accomplishments.

He always had a twinkle in his eye and never met a pun that he didn’t love. (As long as he was kept fed, that is, which is why he had a full drawer of snacks in his office at work and a full shelf of snacks in the kitchen in retirement.) He was usually seen with a meaningful hat on his head, his favorite handknit socks on his feet, and praise of his children and grandchildren on his lips. He is remembered by family and friends as a humble and compassionate man who lived out his strong moral values quietly in daily life, whether that was volunteering with Mobile Meals; bringing his own carryout containers to restaurants for leftovers to avoid Styrofoam waste; hosting foreign exchange students (Nick and Svetlana) in their home; or his lifelong practice of donating time, expertise, money and material items to charities and others in need.

When diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November 2024, his goal was to live long enough to see his granddaughters married and his younger granddaughter graduate from medical school in May 2026. To the amazement and joy of all, he beat the odds and achieved his goals.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his son Scott and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Harry; his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Michael von Muchow; brothers Patrick (significant other

Judy); Timothy (Margit); sister Elaine; his granddaughters Rose Bleau (Jordan) and Madrigal von Muchow (Lolo Young Walser). He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Diane, a niece, nephew, and brothers-in-law.

The family thanks Dr Kurt Oettel, Dr Abigail Chilsen Byrd, and Dr Kyla Lee for their care of Dennis during his last illness. They also would like to thank the Infusion Therapy staff and their endless supply of warm blankets (and Gundersen Foundation donations for sponsoring snacks!) as well as the Serenity House (Tomah) hospice staff for warm and sensitive end-of-life care.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM at English Lutheran Church. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Gundersen Medical Foundation or Macalester College.