John (Jack) Curtis Ronning, age 76, passed away peacefully at his home in Lenexa, Kansas on August 15, 2020. At his side were his loving wife, Judy, and his eight children, thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren that all miss him dearly. His seven-year battle with cancer did not stop him from living life to the fullest. Strength and courage defined him amidst the trials along the journey.

He was born July 7, 1944 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Henry Ole Ronning and Almeda Elizabeth Ronning. It was in north Minneapolis that Jack grew up in a happy and loving home with his parents; brothers, Ronald and Richard; and sister, Jean.

Jack figured they lived on the north end of town so they could ‘get out of town’ quickly on the weekends to go to the lakes fishing.

He attended Loring Elementary School in North Minneapolis. He then attended Fridley High School where he played football and basketball.

His favorite childhood memories living on Rice Creek were endless. Jack’s Golden Retriever, Rusty, was his constant companion.  Jack trapped muskrat, beaver and mink. He saved up $400.00 from selling the hides to buy his first car. This first car was a 1955 Studebaker, yellow with a white top. This happened to be the car he gave his sister and her many friends (more than 10 at a time), a ride home in the days before seatbelts! But his favorite was a black ‘57 Chevy convertible. While in high school he also worked as a Grocery Sacker and as a Shelf Stocker at a hardware store.

His college years were spent at Gustavus Adolphus College and University of MN.

Jack worked as a State Concrete Inspector and then as a Surveyor for the Minneapolis Hennepin County Highway Department, for which both the state and county required passing rigorous tests before starting these jobs.

In the early 1970’s, Jack’s brother Richard asked him to move to Overland Park, KS to work for Ronning Engineering Company both as a draftsman and pilot. In the early 1990’s he began working in the engineering department of Unistrut Corporation near Chicago.  Around 2001, Jack’s eight kids surprised him and Judy with a family vacation in the Ozarks, convincing Jack and Judy to quit their jobs and move back to Kansas to be near family. In Kansas, Jack then started his own business delivering products to grocery stores and after a few years sold that business at a profit and retired for good!  Jack loved spending that time planning as many outdoor adventures as possible with his “Honey” Judy, his eight kids, thirteen grandkids and two great-grandkids. He also enjoyed time with a large family of dear friends in his church community, many of whom would go on wilderness fishing trips with him.  

Jack’s dad and brothers introduced him to fishing and hunting and a love for the wilderness.

Jack loved outdoor adventures: Hang gliding and Quetico, scuba diving and Quetico, kiteboarding and Quetico, flying planes and Quetico, downhill skiing and Quetico, triathlons and Quetico, fishing, hunting, camping and Quetico, and most of all, portaging and canoeing in the beautiful and pristine Canadian wilderness of Quetico. 

Jack loved family and said that his greatest accomplishment was raising eight children. Jack and Judy were married on November 28, 1981. They each had four children. Life certainly became extremely busy and complicated at times, but love for each other and for the Lord glued them together.

Jack confessed his faith in Jesus for salvation and was baptized in 1974 at the age of 30 at Johnson County Christian Church. Jack served as a deacon, he taught children’s Sunday School and drove the bus to pick up kids who otherwise would not have been able to attend church. Johnson County Christian Church, now known as Legacy Christian Church, is where they established life-long friendships. Their Sunday School Class, “Companions in Christ”, provided many fun and meaningful service activities such as serving the homeless at Shelter KC and sharing the Good News with kids through Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Jack has been described as a gentleman and a gentle man, the cool uncle, a fun and dedicated dad and grandpa, a good friend, and a faithful Christian.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents: Henry Ole Ronning and Almeda Elizabeth Ronning and his granddaughter: Katrinna Lynn Coffman.

Jack is survived by his dear wife Judy; his two brothers: Ronald (Bettye) Ronning, Northfield, MN; and Richard (Carol) Ronning, Overland Park, KS; and his sister: Jean Ronning (Alan Staples), Lakeville, MN, his children: Amy Lemieux (James), Royal Oak, MI; Brant Ronning, Olathe, KS; Tiffany Moxley (Justin), Olathe, KS; Jeanne Marmon (Jim) Lenexa, KS; Cherie Coffman (Lance), Edwardsville, KS; Jenise Marrs (Mike),Temecula, CA; Katie Ronning, Arcata, CA; Richard Ronning (Allison), Lenexa, KS; his grandchildren: Amber Barraclough (Andrew), Zane Moxley (Taylor), Natalie Marmon, Savannah Bussmann (Jacob), Alayna Marmon, Klayton Coffman, Lacey Coffman, Grace Hansen, Cole Ronning, Zoe Coffman, Camryn Ronning, Vivian Marrs, Elias Marrs; and his great-grandchildren: Emery Barrclough and Cooper Barrclough.

Jack’s Celebration of Life will be held at Legacy Christian Church, 10150 Antioch, Overland Park, KS on Saturday, August 22nd, at 11:00 am with visitation at 10:00 am. Interment will be located at Corinth Cemetery, Prairie Village, KS.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS SUGGESTED TO:

Shelter KC, 1520 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO 64108

Child Evangelism Fellowship, PO Box 348, Warrenton, MO 63383