The Memorial Wall

EAGAN, Minn. – Michael “Risko” Roman Ryskewecz, 71, of Eagan, formerly of Hurley, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born on May 5, 1953, in Ironwood, Michigan, a son of Roman and Iris (Richards) Ryskewecz. Michael graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1971. After graduating, he worked at his father’s body shop, Romey’s Body Shop, then went on to work at McFarland’s Cranberry Marsh, Ironwood Products and Bessemer Auto Company.

On July 27, 1974, Michael married Linda Traczyk. Mike and Linda made their home in

Hurley and raised their daughter, Tina.

He was an avid Green Bay Packers, Michigan Wolverines, Detroit Tigers and NASCAR fan. He played on local bar league softball teams, Horse’s Corral, Norrie Club, Bessemer Auto and the Old Timers’ League. He played league pool during the winter months. He was a member of the Norrie Club and the ATeam – ATV Club from the Alaska House.

Michael is survived by his daughter, Tina, Eagan; a sister, Susan Buck, Ironwood; two brothers, Gary (Karen) and Jon “Chuck,” both of Ironwood; two brothers-in-law, Gary “High Rise” Traczyk and Brian Traczyk, both of Hurley; and his loving dog, Tasha. He is further survived by nephews, a niece, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Linda, in 2017; and a brother, Peter, in 2018.

Garry "Butch" Yancey, of Chattanooga, died on Thursday, August 1, 2024, after a brutal battle with Parkinson's disease.

Born Nov. 28, 1952, Garry was a graduate of Chattanooga City High School and UT - Chattanooga. Garry spent the majority of his career as a research and development chemist, a subject of lifelong fascination to him.

Garry enjoyed good food, good music, good beer, and good company. He loved going to the YMCA, and in later years exercising with the Rock Steady Boxing program for Parkinson's sufferers. He also enjoyed playing softball, watching college football, and any kind of baseball he could watch. One of the last outdoor activities he was able to enjoy was walking their cat, Romeo, around on his leash.

Garry was preceded in death by his parents, Fobbus and Rowena (Pike) Yancey.

He is survived by his wife, Robyn; his children, Joseph and Sarah; his grandson, Monoa; his sisters, Sarah Lou (Pat) Bakken and Pam Yancey; his brothers, Jack (Carol) Yancey and Mike (Lori) Yancey; cousin and caregiver, Frank Pike; dear friend and caregiver, Carol Standifer; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout Chattanooga and on Sand Mountain, Al.

BENBROOK - Richard Wayne Beard, 67 years old, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away on August 1, 2024 after a long and frustrating battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Richard was born on December 11, 1956 in Tupelo, Mississippi, but enjoyed life experiences all over the Southern United States before settling down in The Lone Star State, where he spent most of his adult life.

A proud Georgia Tech alumnus, Kappa Alpha Fraternity alumnus, and self-identified "Yellow Jacket," Richard derived great joy in cheering on his alma mater during college football season. He liked a challenging riddle, good board games, and bad jokes. He made legendary weekend breakfasts and was the ultimate grill master. He was fearless in the face of a steep roller coaster and bravely challenged any monsters under the bed. More than anything, he loved music, attending concerts of some of the biggest names in classic rock, and passing down this enthusiasm to his daughters who will always think of him when a Grateful Dead song is played.
Richard is survived by his brother (John), sister (Kaye), and his four daughters (Chamberlaine, Mckenna, Oakleigh, and Tulley).

He was preceded in death by his mother (Ruth), sister (Alice), and a number of very dear pets that he cared for like family.

The former alderwoman, who served from 1989 to 2011, championed historical preservation, beautification and the protection of park spaces, friends, family and colleagues said.Former Ald. Mary Ann Smith, who oversaw Edgewater’s beautification and historic preservation in her two decades in office, died Wednesday at 77, according to her family.

A native of the Northwest Side, Mary Ann Smith died from complications of Parkinson’s disease, said Matthew and Michael Smith, her two sons.

As 48th Ward alderwoman from 1989 to 2011, Smith prioritized creating park spaces, improving local schools, introducing traffic calming measures and preserving the ward’s historic blocks, her family, friends and colleagues said.

Smith “radiated authenticity, sweetness, compassion,” and was always followed around by her dogs and cats, Matthew Smith said.

“Her spirit translated seamlessly into her aldermanic years,” he said. “She was very much a mother to the 48th Ward community, whether they were ready for it or not.”

Thom Greene, an Edgewater resident and architect, worked with Mary Ann Smith throughout her time as alderwoman and remained friends long after. He and others who knew her well attribute much of Edgewater’s success and beauty to her and her predecessors’ work.

Smith succeeded two other eminent female leaders in Edgewater: former alds. Marion Volini, who served the neighborhood from 1978-1987, and Kathy Osterman, who was alderwoman from 1987-1989.

“Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, this neighborhood’s really great,’ and they don’t realize how we got there and what we did to create the world that they just walked into,” Greene said. “It’s a great legacy of those women; they really were the forefront and leaders for decades in the 48th Ward.”

Mary Ann Smith even went so far as to earn a brief criminal record for her commitment to keeping the neighborhood looking good.

In 1993, a private group began putting up “terrible” advertisement benches and wouldn’t listen to the alderwoman’s warning that they couldn’t use public space like that. So, she took matters into her own hands, Greene said.

Mary Ann Smith, Greene and one of her sons went out one night and painted over the benches — only to be caught, arrested and charged with criminal damage to property, Greene said and according to a 1993 Chicago Tribune article.

“She was all about beautification,” Greene said, recalling the story with laughter. “She always loved that story.”

Another of her lasting legacies was the restoration of neighborhood schools like William C. Goudy Technology Academy, George B. Swift Specialty School, Pierce Elementary School and Nicholas Senn High School, said former Ald. Harry Osterman.

“Mary Ann was really able to lead the effort to make sure the schools were top notch,” Harry Osterman said. “The kids going back to school in the fall are going to be in better learning environments because of Mary Ann.”

Mary Ann Smith was also chair of the City Council’s committee on parks, ensuring the community had the green space it deserved. In her later years in office, she helped lead an effort to get smoking banned at city beaches.

Parks on the 6100 and 5900 Blocks of North Sheridan Road, as well as green space behind Senn High School, are thanks to Mary Ann Smith, said Jack Markowski, another of her longtime friends in the neighborhood and the former commissioner for the Department of Housing.

“Mary Ann was always looking out for the good of the community, working with the block clubs, the neighbors, the condo associations,” said Markowski, who also was executive director of the Edgewater Community Council from 1983 to 1990.

Mary Ann Smith was Kathy Osterman’s chief-of-staff, and, before that, was involved in community organizing with the Independent Voters of Illinois and her local block club, her friends said.

In a 2016 Chicago Sun-Times article, Mary Ann Smith attributed her community work — and her experience as a young mother — as the inspiration for her jump into politics.

“I remember literally walking in to see Mayor Richard J. Daley’s health commissioner in 1974 with a baby on each hip,” she told the newspaper. “There’s no one more passionate than a person with a new baby.”

After her tenure as alderwoman, Smith remained involved in community affairs, including serving on the Chicago Landmarks Commission and, most recently, on Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth’s (48th) zoning advisory council.

“Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith paved the way for women like me to serve on City Council. It has been an honor to follow in her footsteps,” Manaa-Hoppenworth said in a statement. “She will be greatly missed and my thoughts are with her family.”

Mary Ann Smith attended the College of Saint Teresa from 1964-1967 and graduated from Mundelein College in 1985.

John McKinley a long time Rochester resident died on Tuesday, July 30th due to complications from a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body dementia at River Bend Senior Care.

John was born in Muncie, IN in 1938 and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1961. An early pioneer in the computer sciences he moved to Rochester in 1971 and worked at the Mayo Clinic’s computer research and IT support teams until his retirement in 2001.

John was an avid climber who took on many of the tallest mountains in the Rockies after his retirement. He was also active with a number of climbing clubs in the region. His other outdoor passions included flyfishing the local trout streams, camping, hunting in the Whitewater River valley and countless trips to the Minnesota North Shore, where he introduced his love of the outdoors to friends, family members and work associates.

John is survived by his wife of 49 years Shirley McKinley of Rochester, his son William McKinley and daughter in law Melissa McKinley of Omaha, NE, brother Michael McKinley of Muncie, IN, sister Jayne Gentry and brother in law Ed Gentry both of Bluffton, IN and 2 grandchildren Oliver and Hannah Gjere who both reside in Rochester and are carrying on the tradition of working for the Mayo Clinic. John was preceded in death by his daughter Sarah Szabo, and his sister Joanne Curtis.

Ross was born April 23, 1947, in New York City to Vincent Patrick and Lois Cowan Collins. Ross and his family moved to Houston in 1952. The child of two physicians, Ross followed their example, graduating from Stanford School of Medicine in 1973. He further trained in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, practicing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and in the Twin Cities. He was loved by his patients and respected by colleagues at Park Nicollet. Ross fully expected to stay in practice, like his parents, until age 70, but a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease forced an early retirement in 2010. Not letting PD sideline him, he volunteered as a Health Insurance counselor with the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, assisting seniors with Medicare choices. Having been an active cyclist all his life, he joined others with Parkinson's Disease to ride the trails of the Twin Cities, putting over 5000 miles on a recumbent trike. Ross and his wife, Laurel, loved to travel, venturing six times to Australia, as well as to Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, Central America, and Papua New Guinea. Ross died in Edina on July 27, 2024, of complications of Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body dementia. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Laurel Krause, along with son Michael Collins, brother Kit Collins (Cathy Thomas), sister-in-law Mary Diamond, and niece Kendyl Collins Aquilino. His brother, Cowan Collins, predeceased Ross. 

Jon Larry Sidwell "Sid" Jenson died of Parkinson's Disease in his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 27, 2024 at 88 years of age. He was born October 20, 1935 on a farm in Rexburg, Idaho. His parents were Neils Christian Jenson and Maggie Irene Wayman. He graduated from Madison High School in 1953 and went on to study Agronomy at Ricks College and then graduating with a BS in Crop Science and Agronomy from Utah State University in June of 1962. He was a Corporal in the US Army National Guard in Idaho.

He played basketball at Ricks College and Utah State University where he's in the Athletes Hall of Fame. He continued to play basketball in the Senior Olympics competing all over the world for the USA team, winning 15 gold medals until he was 78 years old.

In 1959, he met Katherine Miller at Ricks College during her half-time band performance at a football game. Sid served a 2-year mission for the LDS church in Sydney, Australia. While there he played on the Mormon Yankee Basketball Team. After his mission Sid and Katherine married in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 21, 1961 and went on to have 7 children: Daedre Anne, Jacqueline, Julie Kaye, David Sidwell, Katherine Janette, Jared Miller, and Brett Julian.

With his Chemistry and Agronomy education, Sid was a successful farmer and rancher in Roberts, Idaho on Silver Ridge Ranch. He served as a bishop twice, then a stake president, and high councilman in Idaho. He served three missions with his wife, Katherine for the LDS church at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jesup, Georgia, and the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also served faithfully as an ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls Temple and Salt Lake Temple.

Sid was Jefferson County Farmer of the Year, President of the Rigby Rotary, Eastern Idaho Alumni President for Utah State University, State Director of Farm Bureau, President of Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Delegate for the Idaho State Republican Party for two Presidents in 1972 and 2000, Ricks College Snow Society Board Member, and Chairman for the Jefferson County Planning Board.

Sid was preceded in death by his father, Neils C. Jenson, mother, Irene Wayman Jenson, brothers, Grant Wilbur, Neils Everett, Lynn, and sisters, Carol Joy, Twila, and Iris, and granddaughter, Mercedes. He is survived by his sister, Lucy and brother Kent, his wife, Katherine and their seven children. Sid has 25 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
 

Jamieson, Wilma Dawne (nee Cuddihy) died of complications from Parkinson's disease on Thursday July 25, 2024. She was born on February 27, 1936 to William and Marjorie Cuddihy in Woodend, Australia. She will live on through her husband of nearly 60 years, Norrie, daughter Anne, and grandson Eddie. She is also survived by her brothers Max (Elaine) and Ian, sister Dorothy, and loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Henry John Larsen, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend, died on July 24th at the age of 80 after 13 years of battling Parkinson’s Disease like a lion. He met the challenges with equanimity and inspired us with his persistent fight while keeping a peaceful frame of mind.

Henry was born in 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Henry John Larsen Sr. and Virginia Mae Siegel Larsen, and joined his two-year-old sister Christine Larsen. Two years later, brother Eric Harold Larsen was born and they grew very close–Henry and Eric often finished each other’s sentences. However, when Henry was three, Virginia was hospitalized with cancer, and the children moved to Geneva, New York, to live on the Larsen Road Farms with their aunt and uncle. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and grandmother lived down the road. At a young age, Henry learned to drive the tractor by standing on the pedals with both feet and carried a love for growing things into adulthood with beautiful vegetable gardens. Tragically, their mother did not survive and died at age 34 when Henry was 4.

At age seven, Henry’s father married Katharine Mellinger, and the children moved back to Pittsburgh where they spent the rest of their childhood. In 1958, their half-brother John Nicholas Larsen was born. Henry graduated from North Allegheny High School in 1962, after which he attended Princeton University, and graduated with a degree in Engineering in 1966. Henry then moved west and completed a masters degree in structural engineering from Stanford University in 1967. His first job was with Blume & Associates, whose innovator, Dr. John A. Blume, is considered the “father of earthquake engineering” and for whom Stanford’s Blume Earthquake Engineering Center is named. Henry’s work included research into underground structural response to nuclear explosions and sonic booms. A warm corporate culture spawned many Blume reunions over the decades that Henry truly enjoyed, the most recent of which was last year.

Henry learned to practice Transcendental Meditation (TM) in the 1970’s. This inspired Henry to enroll in teacher training in Europe and he enjoyed the Marin TM community for the rest of his life. Out of this, a business partnership grew called SCI Builders. For over a decade, Henry designed the engineering for spec residential development projects and the many other tasks small business owners take on.

Henry was a confirmed bachelor until he met Lee Victoria Fleming in 1982 and one year later married at age 39. They had two children, Michael Henry Larsen and Nadia Victoria Larsen.

Henry threw himself into fatherhood, including Little League coaching and Scout Troop activities.

Business was good until a water meter moratorium in Marin brought new construction to a grinding halt. In 1991, Henry launched Larsen Engineering. He thrived with the sole focus of his business to provide engineering calculations and design for residential construction projects. In 1994, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near Northridge and displaced 22,000 people from their homes. The next day, Henry drove down to Northridge to help the overwhelmed building departments in the area inspect tagged buildings for occupant safety, a several day assistance effort coordinated by the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California. Henry’s passion for engineering, diligent site observation to confirm projects were built as designed, and Henry’s ability to adapt to changed conditions in the field kept Larsen Engineering lively until he reluctantly retired in 2019 due to challenges caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

After 41 years of marriage, Henry is survived by his wife, Lee Victoria Fleming Larsen, children Michael Henry Larsen (Amanda) and Nadia Victoria Larsen, siblings Christine Tora Larsen Carmichael (Richard), Mary Catherine Fleming (George) and Donald DeForest Fleming (Leilani), nephews Alex Stearly Carmichael, Andrew Henry Carmichael, Randi Levi Fleming and niece Hailey Christine Rios (Daniel).

Lynden, James (Jim) Stuart 81, of Saint Paul, MN died on July 19, 2024. He was born in San Mateo, California on March 1, 1943 to John Ross Lynden, Jr and Madeleine Speik Lynden. Jim moved to Edina, Minnesota by way of Seattle and graduated from Edina High School in 1961. While in high school he had the opportunity to participate in a Norwegian student exchange program which sparked his interest in traveling.

In 1965, Jim graduated from Stanford University and returned to the Twin Cities to attend law school at the University of Minnesota, get married and try to start a family. After putting down roots in Saint Paul he practiced real estate law and helped to form the Ramsey Hill Association in 1972 - where he was the inaugural President. Later in his career he worked as the City Attorney of Arden Hills.

He was known to have a robust vocabulary, a huge heart and a witty sense of humor. Jim was also a deeply curious person who lived a full life before and after his diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease. He especially enjoyed exploring the globe and loved to tell stories about new and old friends he would meet on the other side of the world.

A long time member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he was dedicated to sharing the message of recovery. Many men can testify how he helped to change their lives to become productive members of society.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother John Ross Lynden III. He is survived by his older brother Frederick Lynden; son John Lynden (partner Sara Kube), grandchildren Jack Lynden and Charley Lynden; daughter Joan Dolphin and granddaughter Dora Dolphin; beloved life-partner Patty Lawerence, daughter Molly Rice (Andy), grandchildren Alex, Emily, and Calvin. He is also remembered by a symphony of nieces and nephews.

He was fortunate to have several long and meaningful relationships over the years including former spouses Margaret Lynden, Nancy Skophammer, and Kathryn Lynden.