Ronald Werner, 73, Dodge Center

Ronald Keith Werner, 73 passed away peacefully on Oct. 15, 2016, at his home in Dodge Center, after a short battle with metastatic lung cancer. 
Ron was born June 22, 1943, in Sterling, Ill., to Fred Walter and Alcie Pauline Werner. He farmed in Illinois, then moved to Missouri, where he farmed and bred angus cattle. After moving to Minnesota, Ron farmed and worked for the Kasson-Mantorville School District as a school bus driver from 1977-2016, transportation supervisor from 1990-91 and grounds supervisor from 1991-2009. He served three years on the Minnesota Sports Turf Manager Association board and served one year as President. He was a lifetime member of the American Angus Association. 
Ron married Sharon Franklin in Hamilton, Missouri on Oct. 2, 1964, and later divorced. Ron married Robbie Hughes on August 19, 1994, in Galena, Ill. They resided in Dodge Center, where they took pleasure in their four basset hounds, birds, gardening, enjoying Mother Nature, watching westerns and listening to old time gospels. Ron avidly followed K-M sports. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and good-natured teasing. 
Ron is survived by his wife Robbie of Dodge Center; brother Donald Paul Werner of Mt Morris, Ill.; children Tamisha (Sulayman) Touray of Brooklyn Park; Traci (Michael) Blaede of Shakopee, Tonya (Craig) Blood of Faribault and Troy (Jillian) Werner of Northfield; stepdaughter Alicia (Brian) Engen of Rochester; grandchildren Archie Lewis, Ashley (Josh) Dudley, Jesse Blaede, Jared Blaede, Toni Blood, Samantha Blood, Lauren Werner, Cole Werner, Allyson Werner and Mitchell Werner; step-grandchildren Jason (Danielle) Blaede, Shane Blaede, Michael Blaede Jr., Tyler Engen and Bella Engen; great-grandchildren Isaac Dudley and Damien Dudley and step great-grandchild Jason Blaede Jr. 
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the First Congregational Church in Mantorville, with Pastor Brian Egelston officiating. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. and memorial service at 11:00 a.m., followed by a meal. Ron wished his body donated to the Mayo Clinic donor program, with interment of ashes at Riverview Cemetery in Dodge Center at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Mayo Clinic Hospice.