Eileen Ryan Lahart

Eileen Ryan Lahart, 82, of Manitowish Waters and Vero Beach (FL) passed away October 16, 2015, at home in Wisconsin after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Upper Montclair, NJ, she attended Immaculate Conception High School (Montclair, NJ), and Trinity College in Washington, DC. An astute student of political science, she enjoyed spending many hours working on Capitol Hill during her time in DC, and had a lifelong interest in political discussion. Senior year of college she met a handsome Lieutenant in the Army JAG Corps and she and Vern were engaged before her graduation. Moving to Vern's native Chicago after their marriage on October 9, 1954, they raised four children in Des Plaines and then in Winnetka. Eileen was active in many ways at Sacred Heart parish and school in Winnetka where her children attended. Eileen and Vern moved to Lucas, Texas in 1980 when Vern's job relocated. Enjoying the outdoors and her garden, Eileen spent hours caring for her new home and getting very involved in their new parish when it was founded, St. Jude's in Allen, Texas. When Vern retired in 1995, Eileen and Vern split their time between their Island Lake home in Manitowish Waters and the beachfront in Vero Beach. She never tired of watching the lake or the ocean as the sun or moon danced on the water. Eileen's warmth, charm, and elegant grace made her a good friend to many no matter where she was. Eileen is preceded in death by her parents Joe and Marion (nee Schaer) Ryan, her sister Jeanne Prout, and brother-in-law Joe and his wife Betty Lahart. Eileen in survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Vern, and their four children and spouses: Chris and Irene (Houston), Nancy and Jim Fleming (Lincoln, MA), Dan (Houston), and Mike and Todd (Norfolk, CT). Surviving also are nine grandchildren: Matt (Caroline), Andrew, Natalye, Eric and Kenny Lahart; Amie, Maggie and Ryan Fleming; and Audrey Lahart Johnson. Eileen is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Eileen and Vern made many friends wherever they settled and always enjoyed hosting or being hosted at many special gatherings over the decades. The Lahart family would like to thank the many people who supported Eileen, and us, in word, deed, and prayer during this past year, especially our dear friends and neighbors the Theisens, Cagneys, and Wallers. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Eileen Ryan Lahart Scholarship at Trinity Washington University (125 Michigan Ave, NE, Washington DC 20017), the Frank Koller Library, (Box 100, US 51, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545), or the charity of your choice. Friends are welcome to gather at home (12535 Rice Bay Lane, Manitowish Waters) Sunday evening (October 18) beginning at 5:00 PM. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Dan Lahart, SJ, at 10:00 AM on Monday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 5610 US Hwy 51, Manitowish Waters, with burial to follow at Pine Lawn Cemetery on Channel Road.