LAUDNER, Ronald J. 1930-2003

LAUDNER, BUCKINGHAM, OSWALD

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/3/2009 at 21:17:38

ROCKFORD, IOWA - Ronald J. Laudner Sr., 73 of 18 First St. N., Rockford died Sunday afternoon, November 2, 2003, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at Zion Lutheran Church, 805 East Main Ave. Rockford. Officiating will be the Rev. Patricia Shaw. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Church. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford with flag folding ceremonies by Walker Graper Post #338 of the American Legion. Fullerton Schumburg Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Ron was born on January 22, 1930, just outside Rockford. He was one of eleven children born to Jonathon and Ruby (Buckingham) Laudner. He was baptized and Confirmed in the Methodist faith in Rockford in 1943. He graduated from Rockford High School in 1947 and served his country faithfully in the Army from 1951 to 1953 when he was honorably discharged. He was inducted in Des Moines and discharged from Fort Monmouth in New Jersey.

Ron married Mary Ellen Oswald on September 1, 1956, in Forest City. He worked in Iowa at various jobs until joining Farmers Mutual Telephone Company in 1955. He held various positions with the company and became the General Manager from 1968 until his retirement in 1995. He was a member of the Iowa Telephone Association and was a board member from 1974 until 1994 and served as the president in 1991. Ronnie was a founding member and past president of the Rockford Golf and Country Club where he spent many happy times.

He also served the community on the Rockford Volunteer Fire Department for many years and remains an honorary member. He was a member and past president of the Rockford Lions Club. Many family members and others leaned on Ronnie in times of trouble or sorrow. He was a caring person up to the time that he needed care over the last 8 years. As his health deteriorated he still had a beaming smile and a gentle hello for everyone.

Those thankful in sharing Ron's life include his wife of 47 years Mary Ellen, one daughter Angie and her husband Brian Sanders, Urbandale; two sons Ronald J. Laudner Jr. and his wife Kathy Douglass, Nora Springs; and Chuck and his wife Stephanie Laudner, Rockford, four grandchildren Zachary, Alexander, Jonathon and Emily Laudner, four sisters Wava Uker, Sheffield, Iowa; Maxine and her husband Roger Fullerton, Rockford; Sandra and her husband George West, Palm City, Fla.; and Diane Massee, Rockford, Ill.; three brothers Delbert and his wife Mary Lou Laudner, El Cajon, Calif.; Marvin "Pete" and his wife Eileen Laudner, Maple Grove, Minn.; Larry and his wife Mary Laudner, Chula Vista, Calif.; a host of nieces and nephews and many special friends from Rockford, the surrounding area and across the nation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Lorraine Van den Brand, and Lois Schulz, and one brother Dallas Laudner.