Ronald R. “Ronnie” Runer, 73, rural Colony, died Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at Olathe Medical Center from complications following heart surgery.
He was born July 3, 1939, in Tulsa, Okla., the son of Forest R. and Lena E. (Osborn) Runer. He grew up on a farm south of Colony and attended school in Colony and Iola. He milked cows for 40 years and hated every minute of it, but found farming and ranching a pleasure. For the past three years he had enjoyed working for Gates Rubber Company.
He was married to Barbara Wilson and they divorced. He later married Alva Cady and they divorced. On Dec. 7, 1994, he married Ila Warren Randall.
Ronnie served in the Kansas National Guard for eight years. He liked to play video games and poker and found special joy in his grandkids.
His wife, Ila, “the love of his life,” survives, as do three sons, David Runer and his wife, Virginia, Colony, Kevin Runer, Iola, and Shawn Randall and his wife, Becky, Yates Center; two daughters, Rita Schmitz and her husband, David, Iola, and Rhonda Murphy, Owasso, Okla.; a stepson and three stepdaughters; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary L. Woodruff and Carole White.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services are at 10:30 a.m. today at the Colony Community Church.
Memorial gifts to the Colony Community Church may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
‘Ronnie Runer’
