Katie Degnan is the daughter of Catherine Donovan and Francis Degnan. She and her twin brother, Frank, were born on March 29, 1889, in Bernard, Iowa. Tragically, their mother, Catherine, did not survive their childbirths and passed away the same day the babies were born. She and their father had been married only nine months.

Katie was raised by the Maloney family, relatives of the Degnans.

Katie and John Ryan married on October 3, 1916, in Garryowen, Iowa. P.J. Coffey C.P. (a Catholic priest) officiated and William Ryan and Margaret Maloney witnessed the ceremony.

Katie and John resided in Maquoketa, Iowa. They had one son: James Aloysius (June 21, 1920–June 2, 2001).

• James Aloysius Ryan married Mary Elizabeth Heiar. They have five children:
  • Mary Ann
  • Doris Kay
  • James Allen
  • Linda Mae
  • Patricia Jean

James Aloysius Ryan passed away on June 2, 2001. He is interred at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque, Iowa.

Katie died on August 17, 1973, and John followed three months later at age 91. They were married for nearly 57 years. They are buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa.

Photos and more information about Katie’s family can be found here.