Ron E. Reimers

Ronald “Slim” Ernest Reimers, 78, of Grand Island died at his home on the morning of Monday, July 29, 2019. Memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2019, at Apfel Funeral Home. Burial at the Litchfield Cemetery the following week next to his wife, Stella. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, August 9 at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Ron was born on February 20, 1941 in Huron, SD, to Ernest and Florence (Dirksen) Reimers. He was the oldest of 4 children. He graduated from Huron High School in 1959. Ron was known as “Slim” to his many friends and classmates. He joined the U.S. Airforce in 1960 and served for 2 years. He trained in electronics and was stationed at Lackland AFB and Albuquerque AFB. He moved to Grand Island in 1965 where he met his first wife, Myrtle Dumont, and they were married on Feb. 27, 1966 in Grand Island. They had two children, Bryan and Karla. Ron married Stella Mae Heil (Lighthill) on June 26, 1981 in Grand Island. He was preceded in death by Stella in 2017 after 36 years of marriage. Ron was a man of all trades working at Firestone, the Floor to Ceiling Store, and then began working at Menards in 1995 until he retired in March 2014.

Ron loved working on his cars. You could always find him tinkering with something or even just taking it apart to put it back together again. Family always came first and we will forever treasure the love he gave each of us. Ron loved his dog-children, Sam and Minnie, too. He was cherished by his friends and neighbors. Ron was a proud Cornhusker fan and wore our colors with pride. During his retirement he became quite interested in local history and researching his family tree.

Ron is survived by two children, Bryan Reimers of Grand Island and Karla Archuleta of Palmdale, CA; step-children Loraine (Richard) Panowicz, John Jr. (Linda) Heil, both of Rockville, Karla (Monte) Stelk of Grand Island, Jason Heil of Loup City and Billynda Spilinek of Elba; grandchildren Jamie Miller of Omaha and Jamey, George, Alyssa, John, Alana, and Joey Archuleta of Palmdale, CA; step-grandchildren Christina Panowicz, Rebecca Panowicz, Lorissa (Bob) Auman, Mitchell Long, Liam Heil, Luke Heil, Jessica (Jeremy) Fanta, Samantha (Brady) Kayl, Sean Wysocki, Alexa Wysocki, Jacob, Joey, Logan, Serenity and James Heil, Shelbea (Taylor) Gouldie, Chelsea Spilinek and Thomas Spilinek; two sisters, Cheryl (Duane) Coates of ID and Charlet Bertsch of El Cajon, CA; his nieces and nephews and many great-grandchildren and his previous wife, Myrtle, of Lancaster, CA.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kevin; wife, Stella; and Sam and Minnie, a step-daughter, Jeri Lyn Heil, and a son-in-law, Robert Wysocki.