Ronald Leo Mergen

Obituary of Ronald Mergen Ronald Leo Mergen, age 79, of The Villages, Florida passed away peacefully at Serenades Memory Care Assisted Living on January 13, 2017 following a long struggle with Alzheimer's. He was born on August 25, 1937 in Bloomington, WI to William S. and Lidwina (Recker) Mergen and began working on the family dairy farm at a young age. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and served in the Army during the early years of the Vietnam War. Ron had a great love of the outdoors, and following his return to the States, he became a National Park Ranger working in various national parks in California, Wyoming, and Arizona. Ron left the National Park Service to return home to help on the family farm and reconnected with the love of his life, Mary Jane. Ron and Mary Jane married on June 1, 1968 and eventually settled in Twin Lakes, WI where they spent the majority of their married life with their daughters, Jodie and Julie. Ron worked for the Department of Defense at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station until his retirement in 1995. Ron and Mary Jane moved to The Villages in 2003 to enjoy the sunshine in retirement. Ron enjoyed sports, especially golf and baseball, and was a passionate lifelong Chicago Cubs, Green Bay Packers, and Wisconsin Badgers fan. Also a music lover, Ron sang in his church choirs at St. John's Catholic Church in Twin Lakes and St. Mark the Evangelist in The Villages and also was part of a barbershop quartet. He was also proud of his volunteer role managing the Twin Lakes Food Pantry. Ron is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Jane of The Villages, FL; his daughter Jodie Ploessl of Winter Park, FL; his daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Ted Raupp of Wadsworth, IL; and his grandson Trevor Raupp of Chicago, IL and granddaughter Tori Raupp of Wadsworth, IL. He is also survived by his brother Ernie (Jeanette Nodorft) Mergen and his sisters Geraldine Meyers, Elaine (Tom) Quick, and Phyllis Stevens; and many loving extended family members and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Summerfield, FL. If desired, to honor his memory in lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or Cornerstone Hospice (https://web.cshospice.org/foundation/giving/). Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Lady Lake, FL Online condolences may be left at www.BeyersFuneralHome.com

Ronald Leo Mergen

August 25, 1937 - January 13, 2017