Ramlo, Ronald William Sr. 1913 - 2014
RAMLO, HITCHCOCK, LIVERSAGE, JOHNSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 10:15:18
Ronald was born June 29, 1913, on a farm near Burr Oak, IA to William and Hallie (Hitchcock) Ramlo and was the eldest of nine children. He married Phyllis Liversage on May 12, 1939 in Brainerd, MN.
Attending school in Canton, where his favorite subject was history, Ronald became involved in community projects early in life when at the age of 10 he spent six weeks of his summer vacation hauling bricks for the new Canton High School, making 20 trips a day from the railroad station to the building site, driving a team of 1,900-pound Belgian horses. In high school he played basketball and baseball, graduated in 1931 and was a member of the town baseball team into the 1950’s.
After graduation he worked for the company that was paving Highway 52, earning enough money that summer to pay his expenses for one year at Winona State College where he studied industrial arts and physical education.
Being the early years of the Great Depression and lacking the money to continue college, Ronald came home and worked whatever jobs were available until January 1935 when he volunteered for the Civilian Conservation Corp. He was stationed in Grand Marais as a forestry crew leader and in Brainerd as a Mess Sergeant.
In 1939 Ronald joined his father in the road construction business and later four of his brothers joined the company which built roads all over southeastern Minnesota for the next 30 years. In 1969 he became Superintendent of Roads for Houston County and served until his retirement in 1979.
Ronald served as mayor of Canton for 16 years and was appointed Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the Minnesota senate in 1969. As a member of Canton-Scotland Presbyterian Church, he served as an ordained elder and sang in the choir. On his 100th birthday he was honored for his 65 years as a member of the Masonic lodge.
Among the things he enjoyed in life for many years were golf, baseball, hunting and fishing, playing cards, dancing with his wife, telling stories of his life’s events, and playing music. At different times in his life he played trumpet in a German band, trombone and baritone in the city band and drums in a dance band.
Ronald passed away on April 12, 2014 at Green Lea Manor in Mabel, Minnesota at the age of 100.He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, five brothers and three sisters.
Ronald is survived by a son Ronald, Jr. (Marcia) of Pekin, IL and a daughter Donivee (Richard) Johnson of Canton. Two grandsons Todd (Kelly) Ramlo of Yorkville, IL and Jeffrey (Carla) Ramlo of Tremont, IL, and six great grandchildren; Abigail of Peoria, IL, Hannah of Cincinnati, OH, Megan of Peoria, Allison of Tremont and Sidney and Spencer Snyder of Yorkville. He is also survived by fourteen nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Canton-Scotland Presbyterian Church in Canton, MN with the Rev. LeRoy Haynes officiating.
Interment will be in Elliota Cemetery at Canton.
In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Source: Mengis Funeral Home database
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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