[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2443-S2444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO RYAN TUCKER

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of Iowans 
across our State to recognize the distinguished career, dedication, and 
lifelong hard work of Mr. Ryan G. Tucker as he concludes his time as 
president of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, IFDA.
  As many who know him will tell you, Ryan grew up with a spirited 
commitment to his community, his family, and to others. A native of 
Sumner, it did not take long for Ryan to begin working in the trade. As 
a student at North Iowa Area Community College,

[[Page S2444]]

Ryan started as an employee at Fullerton Family Funeral Home in Mason 
City. He would go on to study at Worsham College of Mortuary Science, 
earning an internship in Fort Dodge under a former IFDA president, 
Scott Graham.
  His experiences early on in his career have led him to where he is 
today, as co-owner of Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, Readlyn, 
Shell Rock, and Denver, serving Iowa families with his critical work.
  Ryan assumed his role as president of the IFDA at a time unlike any 
other, as the COVID-19 pandemic tragically took hold early last year, 
but, in the face of enormous challenges and uncertainty, Ryan displayed 
steadfast leadership for his colleagues that surely allowed for 
countless families to find comfort in such difficult times.
  Ryan guided the IFDA through the pandemic, being especially focused 
on ensuring the hard work of our State's funeral directors could 
continue with safety top of mind. At the pandemic's start, Ryan issued 
daily briefings to IFDA members that became vital. He provided 
information about best practices, updates on policies and proclamations 
by the Governor and State government, and materials to make sure that 
Iowa funeral directors could continue to serve families while adhering 
to public health limitations.
  Ryan's lifetime of work, his dedication to his craft, and his 
leadership in a uniquely challenging time have all undoubtedly made a 
positive impact on the lives of countless Iowans. As he takes the next 
step in his distinguished career and steps down as president of the 
Iowa Funeral Directors Association, we wish him, his wife Kayla, and 
his two sons, Colby and Griffin, all the best, and we thank Ryan for 
everything that he has done for our State and our communities.

                          ____________________