Read Mr. Ronald "Ron" Louis Smith's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Mr. Ronald "Ron" Louis Smith

Sugar Grove, IL, USA

June 17, 1939 - July 18, 2021

Jun 17, 1939 - Jul 18, 2021

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On Sunday, July 18th, 2021, Ronald L. Smith, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 82 in his home in Sugar Grove, Illinois, surrounded by loved ones. He fought a ten-year battle with prostate cancer. Ron was born on June 17, 1939 in Jackson, Michigan to Richard and Janice Smith. Together with his sister, Janet, the family moved multiple times, residing in Michigan, Wisconsin then landing in northern Illinois.

From a young age, Ron was a gifted athlete and enthusiastic fan of just about any sport! He graduated in 1957 from Wauconda Township High School where he was a decorated letterman in football, basketball and baseball. After high school, Ron enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in southern Germany. One fateful night during a ski trip and respite from military duty, Ron met his first wife, Barbara Berta Hollweg (1942-2003). After many months of writing letters and courtship, they were married in Hagen, Germany on December 16th, 1963. Together they moved to McHenry, Illinois where they raised two children, David and Melanie. Ron spent his career as General Manager at Multiple Concrete Accessories in Naperville, Illinois where he worked tirelessly, leaving home before the sun came up. It was very important to him to keep his family in one place (McHenry) after he had moved so frequently as a child. He was a gracious host to countless family visitors from Germany and enjoyed sharing American culture. On the weekends and after work he could often be found at a sporting event of some sort! He never missed a game in coaching David’s baseball teams and spent many hours teaching Melanie how to shoot a basketball, throw a football, and watching McHenry High School tennis, basketball and baseball. A skilled craftsman, he could build just about anything from decks to basement bars! He enjoyed entertaining and most weekends involved evenings with friends, family, and camping trips in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Ron enjoyed a party and is fondly remembered for his big smile and having fun on the dance floor. In 2003, as grandparents to five grandchildren (Emily, Libby, Max, Annalise and Jillian), Ron was devastated to lose his wife Barbara to lung cancer.

After several years spent in mourning, all were happy to learn that Ron opened a new chapter of life when he married his second wife, Jeryl Trnka Smith, of Aurora, Illinois. They were married on December 1, 2006 near their home in Sugar Grove. Together, they enjoyed a love of sports including rivalrous fantasy football. A life-long Green Bay Packers fan (Ron) married an equally dedicated Chicago Bears fan (Jeryl)! Jeryl taught Ron to ski at age 65. Ron and Jeryl shared a love of golf and enjoyed their time playing at Bliss Creek where Ron was honored five times for achieving a hole in one! Ron felt blessed to have a full and loving second chapter and spent many memorable weekends with Jeryl’s family; Mark, Eileen, Courtney and Maddy, at the “Crooked Cabin” in northern Wisconsin where he was affectionately known as “Ron Rico.” In recent years, Ron and Jeryl escaped the Chicagoland winters and developed a community of new friends in Mesa, Arizona not far from Jeryl’s daughter Beth.
Ron was preceded in death by his sister Janet, both of his parents and his first wife, Barbara. He is survived by Jeryl, his two children, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and the Trnka families. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday September 25, 2021 from 1-4pm at Open Range Restaurant on Bliss Creek Golf Course in Sugar Grove, Illinois: 1 Golfview Lane Sugar Grove, IL 60554.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Prostate Cancer Foundation.

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