Ronald R. Ludwig

Ronald “Ron” Ludwig, 75, of Grand Island, passed away Sunday, November 18, 2018, at CHI St. Francis in Grand Island.



Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor Adam Snoberger will officiate. Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, November 26, 2018, at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island.



Ron was born on September 7, 1943, in Storm Lake, Iowa, to Arnold J. and Irma (Schaefer) Ludwig. He graduated from Rockwell City High School in Iowa. He attended Milford Trade School where he studied Drafting and received a two-year degree in Mechanical Drawing and Architectural Drafting.



He married Cheryl (Kruse) on August 20, 1972, at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms, Nebraska. Afterward, the couple made their home in Grand Island where they lived in the same house for 40 years. They have two children, Joy and John.



He was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served as a head usher and elder.



He began his career at Hoppe Lumber Co. where he worked as a sales representative. He also worked for several years at Huey Long Co. and Johnson Cashway Lumber Co. For 29 years, he worked as an order writer at Overhead Door Corp., where he developed the plans for custom-order doors.



He enjoyed sketching design plans and working with wood. He designed and built the barn-like garage, children’s playhouse, and many other interior projects at the family home. He excelled in math and world geography. He liked to joke with people and make them laugh. He was known for his sarcastic sense of humor, slightly crooked smile, and precise attention to detail. He loved helping people and often did so anonymously because, “it’s the right thing to do.” He enjoyed talking to strangers and his jovial, positive attitude allowed him to make friends easily. He enjoyed nature, watching Nebraska football games, and spending time with his family on trips. He also liked fishing and collecting football cards. Ron didn’t believe in goodbyes and instead ended most conversations with one of his favorite sayings: “I’m glad you got to see me.”



He was immensely proud of his children, their spouses, and his baby granddaughter.



Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Cheryl, of Grand Island; a daughter, Joy Ludwig-McNutt, and her and husband, Jason McNutt, of London, U.K.; a son, John, and his wife Stephanie, of Omaha, and a granddaughter, Kara, of Omaha.



He is survived by two brothers and their wives, Dwaine and Charlotte Ludwig, Ed and Sharon Ludwig, all of Rockwell City, Iowa; and his sister, Myra Patterson, of Pearl City, Hawaii; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Betty Kruse, Colby, Kan.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Eva and Gary Bixenmann, Grand Island; sister-in-law, Roselyn Rose, Grand Island; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.



He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Tom Patterson; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mel and Dorothy Olston, Chapman.







Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Island. Ron’s children ask that you honor him in the way he would love best, by performing unexpected, random acts of kindness for family, friends and strangers.