It was peaceful, but yet so hard!! My dad's obituary

Ronald D. Hill
LA CRESCENT, Minn. — Ronald D. Hill, 68, of La Crescent passed away peacefully at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center with his loving family by his side following a thirteen month fight with esophageal cancer.
He was born in La Crosse on April 5, 1944, to John “Jack” and Louise (Clements) Hill. On Sept. 11, 1965, he married Dawn Ceason at Wesley United Methodist Church in La Crosse.
Ronald is survived by his wife of 46-1/2 years, Dawn; two daughters, Peggy Mathison of Caledonia, Minn., and her children, Jon and Austin; Chrissie Bass of Brownsville, Minn., and her children, Geoffery, Chaz, Denzel and Rae Rae.
He is further survived by his mother, Louis Hill of La Crescent; siblings, Patricia (Ron) Gruntzel of La Crescent, Donald (Kathy) Hill of La Crescent, Larry (Mary) Hill, Hawthorn Woods, Ill., Karen (Gary) Deutsch, St. Ann, Mo., Barbara (Bruce) Grant of La Crescent, and Gary (Kim) Hill of La Crescent; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Hill; a sister, Carol Jean; his grandparents, Albert and Marie Clements and Elmer and Gladys Hill.
Ron grew up on the Mississippi River where he enjoyed many days of boating and fishing. He was also an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
He belonged to many organizations. He was a member of the Morning Start Lodge #29 of La Crescent, Evening Star #71 of La Crescent, presently serving as Worthy Patron. Member of the Scottish Rite 32nd Degree, Winona, and member of the Osmond Shrine of Minneapolis, Minn. Ronnie belonged to the Operating Engineers local #139 for 49-1/2 years, receiving the Retiree of the Year in 2011. He was president of the local 139 Retirees Club.
Ronnie worked for Ryan Inc. Central of Janesville, Wis., for 36 years as a project manager. He traveled to many states building and working on many projects. Upon his retirement, Ryan Inc. gave Ron his famous yellow truck “the 1 N Only.”
Ronnie was a special mentor to many of the new employees at Ryan Inc. who have now carried it forward. He spent numerous years with his brothers on various projects with Ryan’s and worked with his father at the Alma Power Plant.
Ronnie and his brother, Donnie were partners in Hill’s Mobile Home Park of La Crescent. He was a volunteer on the La Crescent Fire Dept. and enjoyed working in his yard where he took great pride in his flowers.
Ronnie has touched the lives of many people. Since his diagnosis, he was able to: fly an airplane, go dogsledding, drive #32 race car at the La Crosse Interstate Speedway and take special trips to Ely, Minn. He taught us all how to cope with illness through humor and positive thinking.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2012, at the La Crescent United Methodist Church. The Rev. Gregory Havel will officiate. Burial will follow in the Prince Of Peace Cemetery, La Crescent. Visitation with masonic services will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the church and again from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be used in Ron’s memory. Online guestbook may be signed at www.schumacher-kish.com.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and hospice at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and especially Kristin Johnson, RN.


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