William A. "Bill" Ryan, 81, of 500 E. Midland Ave., Ironwood, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, in Ironwood. Bill was born Dec. 11, 1925, in Puritan Location, Bessemer Township, son of the late David and Frances (Salo ) Ryan, and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer with the Class of 1943. He entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 16, 1943, proudly serving his country in the 106th Infantry in the European Theater of Operations. He was captured by the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge in Dec. 1944, and was a prisoner of war until he was freed in April, 1945. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Following his honorable discharge on Nov. 24, 1945, Bill returned to Puritan Location and attended Gogebic Community College in Ironwood. He then graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette in 1950, and taught in Detour for a short time. Bill was employed at Delco-Remy in Milwaukee and later in the space program for the company at Bethpage, Long Island, N.Y. He was especially proud of his work on the guidance system for the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander. After retiring, he owned a small business in West Allis, Wis., and moved to Ironwood in 1990. Bill was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood. He enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, card games, "Musta-busta" dice game, going to the casino, and riding the backroads of the area to see wildlife. He especially enjoyed gardening. He married Kathryn Adams on Nov. 27, 1954, in Chicago. She preceded him in death on Jan. 13, 1988. He then married Jean Champion on Oct. 17, 1991, in Bessemer, She preceded him in death on Sept. 19, 2007. Surviving are two brothers, John (Vera), Ironwood, and James, Omaha, Neb.; three sisters, Jean Ferris, Onalaska, Wis., Rita Ryan, Federal Way, Wash., and Kathleen (Tomas) Santos, Ironwood; a step-son, Robert Champion, Appleton, Wis.; four step-daughters, Ann (Donald) Beck, West Bend, Wis., Bonnie (Phillip) Kukkonen, Hancock, Kathleen (Patrick) Steiger, Bessemer, and Janis (Ronald) Steffen, Neenah, Wis.; sisters-in-law, Elvie Strand and Eva M. Johnson, both of Ironwood; and numerous nieces, nephews, and step-grand and great-grandchildren. Besides his parents and wives, Bill was preceded in death by a brother, David, and sister, Peggy Johnson; a sister-in-law, Carole Ryan; and brothers-in-law, Ray Hallberg Sr. and Roger Ferris. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m., at Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Francis Strong officiating. Committal services will be held at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call at the church beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Pallbearers will be Tim and David Ryan, Roger Hill, Ray Hallberg, Patricia Emery, and Sophia Gunderson. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Salem Lutheran Church. To view Bill's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with Mckevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc. of Ironwood.