Ronald Louis Romer, Sr.

Ronald Louis Romer, Sr. was born in Chicago April 13, 1934 and grew up in Round Lake, IL. He graduated Grant High School in 1952 and attended Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, where he met his wife Ruth Pearl Willey.

Ron was a man of many passions, especially known for his love of people. His first passion was making people laugh and spreading happiness. He was a State Farm insurance agent for 42 years in Cary and never wanted to retire because his customers were his family. Some even referred to him simply as “Uncle Ronnie.” 

He came from a deeply religious family and became a lay minister in his church and a favorite speaker for Sunday sermons. These values and love of kids benefitted the community in his long service as a Boy Scout leader for Troop 165, ultimately inducted being into the prestigious Order of the Arrow. 

Ron won the heart of his wife of 64 years, Ruth, with his ukulele and love songs. In fact, music was a central theme in Ron’s life. He loved to entertain and had a great singing voice. Ron was a lead singer in The Elgin Minutemen of Harmony Barber Shop Chorus when they won the State SPEBSQSA championship. He was also active in community theatre at the Woodstock Opera House. 

As a boy during WWII, Ron began a passion for model airplanes. Over the years, that passion led to a private pilots’ license and the project to build his own sport aircraft. Ron became a founding members and a past President of Barrington Chapter 790 of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He was given a Distinguished Volunteer Award by EAA President Paul Pobrezny for his decades of tireless dedication and volunteer work at the annual Oshkosh Air Venture. 

Ron had a sense of patriotism and love for his country that made him deeply proud of his military service during the 1950s when he was stationed in Stuttgart Germany. He was an avid reader and accomplished military historian. Ron was a founding member of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table, with an incredible knowledge of wars fought for freedom. 

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his children, Ronald (Gloria) Romer Jr., Scott (Kirstin) Romer and Stephanie Romer; and grandchildren, Wesley, Nicole, Jessica, Elijah and Noah. 

Ron was preceded in death by his siblings, Bruce and Lois.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 19, from 4pm until 8pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. A funeral service will be on Thursday, March 20, at 11am with a visitation to begin at 10am at First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St, Crystal Lake.