Official Obituary of
Ronald S. German
December 17, 1962 ~ June 20, 2018 (age 55) 55 Years Old
Ronald German Obituary
Ronald S. "Ron" German, of Watertown, SD, left us too soon, after a courageous 5-year battle with Colon Cancer, on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at Ava's Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.
Ron's 55 years with us were far too short but they were filled with many extraordinary experiences and many people who knew and loved him dearly. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at New Life Evangelical Free Church in Watertown. Pastor Michael Wallenmeyer will officiate. Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Monday from 4-7 p.m. and prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Ron's nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers will be: Peter Kinney, Justin Neuhauser, Wayne Kluver, Art "Junior" Argo, Harlow Niles and Alan "Gumby" Hollatz. He was born to the late Henry and Jeanella German on December 17th 1962, the 4th of 6 children. He attended Peever Elementary school and graduated from Sisseton High School in 1981. He grew up working with his family, who owned a road construction business and at age 12, he knew he wanted to be a Carpenter. Being raised on the family farm, he broke horses and sheared sheep with his brother John so they could buy a motorcycle and first cars. The night Ron was baptized in 1982 he met Kelly Page and his life was never the same, marrying her in April of 1983. The long cold prairie winters inspired Ron and his little family to move to the warmer desert climate of Arizona in 1985, with their first born Mandy in tow. Mitchell followed in 1987 and Keith in 1989. During the 7 years in Arizona, Ron began his lifelong carpentry career with Bruce and Larry Spitzke. In 1992, he returned to Watertown and opened R&K Construction and purchased land west of Watertown where he built 4 homes for his family. There was never a job too big or complicated - he loved the challenge of solving a problem. In 2005 Ron began working for Mills Property Management as a Maintenance Technician and he and Kelly became the on-site night and weekend managers for Sunchase Apartments. Living at Sunchase was a good fit for Ron, allowing him to combine his quiet humor, sense of calm and always the bright side of the coin. Ron was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in 2013, shortly after the fire that destroyed the Sunchase Apartments. He began his care in Watertown and eventually moved it to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, IL. He traveled to CTCA often and would meet many people during his journeys - always keeping an eye for any good deals he may find along the way as he was continuously working on something for the next house he was going to build, his Honda Goldwing motorcycles, machinery, or trucks. Ron was always a dreamer and at 6'3" was often referred to as a gentle giant. He was known for salvaging long lost and well-loved items for re-use, giving them new life. Ron could be depended on for a few key phrases at various life stages, almost all of them rooted in the idea that a person is responsible for their own behavior, regardless of the situation. He leaves us with the reminder that we'll just have to keep on keepin' on and know that God is good. Ron is survived by his loving wife, Kelly (Page) of Watertown, SD; three children: Mandy (Ruben) Herrera, of Minneapolis, MN, Mitchell (Christy) German, of Watertown, SD, and Keith (Heather) German, of Watertown, SD; two grandchildren, Emmett and Kaia, two brothers: Henry "Skip" (Maxine) German of Watertown, SD, and John (Lori) German of Tampa Bay, FL; three sisters: JoAnn (Larry) Cowan, of Sedona, AZ, Susan (Steve) VandenHoek, of Huron, SD, and Jeane (Andy) Schuering, of Lidgerwood, ND; his mother-in-law, Lila Page, of Watertown, SD; his father-in-law, Gene Page, of Watertown, SD; and his brothers-in-law: Kirby (June) Page, of Iroquois, SD, Tom (Peggy) Page, of Brookings, SD, Tim (Lori) Page, of Brookings, SD, and Dave (Denise) Page, of Milbank, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Curt Page.
When: June 25, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: June 26, 2018 10:30am
Location: New Life Evangelical Free Church
Address: 1530 N Highway 20 Watertown, SD 57201
Ron's 55 years with us were far too short but they were filled with many extraordinary experiences and many people who knew and loved him dearly. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at New Life Evangelical Free Church in Watertown. Pastor Michael Wallenmeyer will officiate. Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Monday from 4-7 p.m. and prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Ron's nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers will be: Peter Kinney, Justin Neuhauser, Wayne Kluver, Art "Junior" Argo, Harlow Niles and Alan "Gumby" Hollatz. He was born to the late Henry and Jeanella German on December 17th 1962, the 4th of 6 children. He attended Peever Elementary school and graduated from Sisseton High School in 1981. He grew up working with his family, who owned a road construction business and at age 12, he knew he wanted to be a Carpenter. Being raised on the family farm, he broke horses and sheared sheep with his brother John so they could buy a motorcycle and first cars. The night Ron was baptized in 1982 he met Kelly Page and his life was never the same, marrying her in April of 1983. The long cold prairie winters inspired Ron and his little family to move to the warmer desert climate of Arizona in 1985, with their first born Mandy in tow. Mitchell followed in 1987 and Keith in 1989. During the 7 years in Arizona, Ron began his lifelong carpentry career with Bruce and Larry Spitzke. In 1992, he returned to Watertown and opened R&K Construction and purchased land west of Watertown where he built 4 homes for his family. There was never a job too big or complicated - he loved the challenge of solving a problem. In 2005 Ron began working for Mills Property Management as a Maintenance Technician and he and Kelly became the on-site night and weekend managers for Sunchase Apartments. Living at Sunchase was a good fit for Ron, allowing him to combine his quiet humor, sense of calm and always the bright side of the coin. Ron was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in 2013, shortly after the fire that destroyed the Sunchase Apartments. He began his care in Watertown and eventually moved it to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, IL. He traveled to CTCA often and would meet many people during his journeys - always keeping an eye for any good deals he may find along the way as he was continuously working on something for the next house he was going to build, his Honda Goldwing motorcycles, machinery, or trucks. Ron was always a dreamer and at 6'3" was often referred to as a gentle giant. He was known for salvaging long lost and well-loved items for re-use, giving them new life. Ron could be depended on for a few key phrases at various life stages, almost all of them rooted in the idea that a person is responsible for their own behavior, regardless of the situation. He leaves us with the reminder that we'll just have to keep on keepin' on and know that God is good. Ron is survived by his loving wife, Kelly (Page) of Watertown, SD; three children: Mandy (Ruben) Herrera, of Minneapolis, MN, Mitchell (Christy) German, of Watertown, SD, and Keith (Heather) German, of Watertown, SD; two grandchildren, Emmett and Kaia, two brothers: Henry "Skip" (Maxine) German of Watertown, SD, and John (Lori) German of Tampa Bay, FL; three sisters: JoAnn (Larry) Cowan, of Sedona, AZ, Susan (Steve) VandenHoek, of Huron, SD, and Jeane (Andy) Schuering, of Lidgerwood, ND; his mother-in-law, Lila Page, of Watertown, SD; his father-in-law, Gene Page, of Watertown, SD; and his brothers-in-law: Kirby (June) Page, of Iroquois, SD, Tom (Peggy) Page, of Brookings, SD, Tim (Lori) Page, of Brookings, SD, and Dave (Denise) Page, of Milbank, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Curt Page.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: June 25, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: June 26, 2018 10:30am
Location: New Life Evangelical Free Church
Address: 1530 N Highway 20 Watertown, SD 57201
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In Loving Memory Of
Ronald German
December 17, 1962-June 20, 2018
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