Jeanette Jean "Jean" Triem Ryan

Helene Jeanette "Jean" (Triem) Ryan of Bellevue, WA passed away Thursday, Mar 19, 2009 at Mercer Island Care & Rehabilitation Center at the age of 75. The end for Jean was peaceful with her husband, Paul, at her side. Jean was born in Chicago, IL on May 18, 1933 to Harrie B. and Helen (Langer) Triem. During her formative years, the Triem family resided in Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Duluth, MN and Fargo, ND before settling in Minneapolis, Minn. in 1950. There Jean finished her education at Central High School and met her husband to be in 1951. After High School Jean worked at a local Bank and an Insurance Co. Engaged in 1954, Jean accepted an invitation from Paul in 1955 to come to France and get married in Verdun where he was stationed with the Army. In June, 1955 Jean journeyed from Minneapolis by train and boat, by herself and at her own expense, to Paris, France where Paul met her train and then escorted her to Verdun (pop. ~20,000). They were married in Verdun on June 20, 1955. They returned to the US in July, 1956 by Military Transport Ship (a week before the sinking of the Andrea Doria). Jean went to work for Ace Lines Trucking Co. as a secretary while Paul finished school. In Jan, 1959 the family, now 3, moved to Seattle where Paul started his career with Boeing and Jean went to work as the homemaker. By 1962 the family had grown to 5 keeping Jean very busy. In Dec, 1966 the family moved to our present home in Bellevue. In 1975, when the girls were in their teens, Jean went back to work as a bookkeeper for W. K. Martin; retiring in 1993. Jean belonged to several organizations, including the Girls Scouts of America, the Evergreen Artists, the German Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society, and she was also one of the founders of the Eastside Association of Fine Arts and a local chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. Sewing, quilting, drawing and painting were among her many hobbies, but her true love was watercolor painting. Additionally, she spent 25 years researching her family history eventually locating and visiting "cousins" in Germany.She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Betty Mae. She is survived by her beloved husband, Paul; daughters Ann Ryan of Olympia, WA, Kathleen Ryan Ursa and her husband, David Ursa of Bartlett, IL; Nancy Ryan and her husband Kevin Hendricks, of Seattle, WA; grandson Ryan Wilson, of Puyallup; and two granddaughters, Meghan Ursa and Penelope Hendricks.Visitation will be held at 12:30 pm on March 26 at Sunset Hills Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 1215 - 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA with funeral services following at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Medic One, Bellevue; Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America; or Overlake Hospital, Bellevue, WA. Loving wife, mother and grandmother, Jean was dearly loved and will be sorely missed by her family, neighbors and all the friends whose lives she touched with her friendship, compassion and love. She is now at rest. Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Bellevue, WA.