Frans Ryberg Obituary

Frans Oscar Ryberg, 91, passed away December 3, 2009, in St. Germain, WI, where he has resided since 1972. He was a founding partner of the Pedersen-Ryberg Mortuary, Elmhurst, IL. He was a member of the Elmhurst Rotary Club for many years, including serving as secretary and president. He was a member of the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church and served as an elder there. He, also, served many other civic and trade organizations during his active years in his business. Born on the family homestead in Morgan County, Colorado, November 7, 1918, his family returned to this area and settled in Glen Ellyn when he was 8 years old. He completed high school at Glenbard in 1937, and eventually apprenticed in the funeral business at E. W. Leonard, Glen Ellyn, in 1941-1942. He married his childhood sweetheart, Ruth Marie Weinbauer, of Glen Ellyn on March 15, 1942. He entered the U S Navy in May 1942, and served over 3 years during the war, mostly on a small island in the South Pacific. After the war he continued in the funeral profession and in the early 1950's began working at H. H. Robillard Funeral Home in Elmhurst, where he met Vernon Pedersen. In 1959, he and Vernon founded Pedersen-Ryberg Mortuary. His wife, Ruth, passed away in March, 1986, and his sister. Rhoda Hill, in 1998. He is survived by his brother Theodore W. (Lorrayne) of Oak Brook, IL, sons David (Fairlynn) of Houston, TX, and Richard (Elizabeth) of Eau Claire, WI, five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The memorial service is 10 AM Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at Community United Church of Christ, St. Germain, WI.