Ronald E. Sittner

Ronald Edward Sittner was born in Fresno, California to John and Molly Sittner on April 19, 1943 and passed away at his Clovis, California home on October 24, 2019, after three years of surgeries, hospitalizations and rehab.

He was raised in central Fresno, near the Veteran’s Hospital at Funston Place. He went to Lafayette, Birney, Washington Junior High and then his mom passed away, leaving him going door to door with relatives and neighbors asking for a place to live. He ended up in a foster home in Kerman where he lived and worked until he was 18. At that time his foster care ended, but his Aunt Sophie and Uncle Connie Brumm stepped up and let him live there so he could graduate from Roosevelt High School in 1961. He worked at service stations, went to FCC and bought a car or two. Then he enlisted in the Army and spent the next three years in training stateside and then to Korea for service with a Hawk Missle Battalion. He returned to Ford Ord to finish his enlistment.

Ron took all the lessons of life that he learned about hardship, survival, faith in himself and god, coping mechanisms, problem solving, generosity, value of family and friends, compassion for others, paying things forward, honesty, fairness and LOVE and lived the rest of his life and guided the life of his family with those values. He loved being with the Karle, Weber, and Brumm families and visited often because they were mainly local. Travel included the friends and relatives who lived out of town. He regretted not spending more time with his brother and family. However, in the last few years, he reconnected and was grateful for spending more time on the phone with his brother and time in person with his ex-sister-in-law, Sharon Sittner and his niece, Lauretta Haley.

The majority of his worklife was spent at PG&E. Starting out as a mail boy, he worked his way up to Meter Reader Supervisor, loving it, and along with the readers and staff, making it a top performing unit. He retired in 1994 and then went back to the company on contracts or other assignments for another 13 years. He was a real asset because he had worked his way up through the system and had contacts throughout it.

He loved building houses. The first and second ones were in Sunnyside working with Harry Rau and his buddy, Bob Strunk. Our house on Olive was the gathering place for friends, family, and other functions. It had a pool, room for volleyball, horseshoes, a large deck for parties. For 30 years we hosted New Year’s Eve card parties and late dinner potluck. The third one was a Wilson home in Clovis, that we spent time upgrading it. Then we got the idea of buying a condo in Cottonwood, Arizona because it was very near Sedona. Looking up at the stars at night and feeling the wonder of the Vortex was unforgettable. Then we wanted to go to the coast so we bought a house in Florence, Oregon and that became our retreat. Our friends, John and Sharon Mullins, Pat and Dave Hole and Bob and Gail Roza helped us move in and out of these places. We traveled with Sandy Carsten and family to the coast, with the Mullins extensively, short trips to the coast, cruises and land trips and Hawaii. We spent our 40th anniversary on a Mediterranean cruise.

Also during this time, Jennifer married Joe Senneway and our grand children, Dylan and Brooklyn were born. They became the center of our lives. Hours were spent playing with them and watching them grow. Ron was Bobo; Marge was Nana. They combined the names and called us NanaBobo.

Ron attended as many of Dylan and Brooklyn’s functions as possible. When Dyl was little he wanted a bowling lane, so Ron ordered real bowling pins and took him to thrift stores for balls and set up a lane on the side of the house. One day a neighbor came by and asked where the bowling lane was. Another day there was a mix-up in the household as to who had Brookie. Ron was at a baseball game and told Joe he’s going to their house to see if Brookie was there. Sure enough, each spouse thought the other one had her and she was still at home. Ron walked in and there was Brookie and Sammie, the doodle, on the stairs crying. Brookie said, “Bobo, you saved us! I knew you’d come.” Needless to say both Brookie and the dog bonded with Ron and whenever Ron got near the house, Sammie would cry and bark and bring him her toys.

I have loved Ron all my life, 55 years, 53 married. He has shown his love for me by putting me first as well as Jen and her family. I tried to care for him as he did for me. Ronnie, I love you till we meet again. You live in my heart always. You let your light shine.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marjorie, his dog, Max, his daughter, Jennifer, his son-in-law, Joe, his grandson, Dylan, his granddaughter, Brooklyn, his granddog, Sammie, his grandcat, Tahoe, his sister-in-law Carol Ann Weber, his ex-sister-in-law, Sharon Sittner, his niece, Lauretta Haley, his nephew, Bradley Sittner and sister-in-law, Frankie and her children, his cousins, Marilyn Siebert and Bobbie Brumm. Also surviving are Rick, Joylene, and Bradley Senneway, Joe’s brother’s family and Barbara Senneway, Joe and Rick’s mom. The family tree search has borne fruit and Jen and I will begin in January working with Sittner cousins Gwen Sittner and her daughter Alicia Sittner-Scott on some Sittner genealogy.

Thank you to the ER staffs, hospitalists, nurses, nursing assistants, consultants, ancillary staffs at CcCare, Clovis Community Hospital, St. Agnes Hospital, San Joaquin Valley Rehab as well as Valley Regional Home Health and Hospice, Select Home Care and Pro Home Health for your support and care. Thank you also to Dr. Kevin Boran, Dr. Amy Gen, Dr. Tom Minor, Dr. Naeem Rahman, Dr. Dexter Estrada, Dr. Matthew Lozano, Dr. Disbrow, Dr. Sandeep Sekhon and Dr. Monson. Special thanks to Tina Marie Allread and Kia Cotton. You know why.

The services with all take place on Thursday, December 5, 10 AM starting at Fresno Memorial Gardens, Hwy 180 and Cornelia Ave for burial of ashes. The Celebration of Life will be held at Tinkler Chapel, 475 Broadway,93701 at11:30 AM, Reverend Bryan Martin, Officiating. There will be a luncheon, no host bar, following the service at Westwood Wedding Venue at 1:00 PM 4584 West Jacquelyn Ave off of Shaw/99. Ron wanted his services to be a joyful celebration as the way he lived his life. Please join us.

He asked that any remembrances be sent in his name to your favorite charity or to CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Fresno and Madera Counties to help support foster children at www.casafresnomadera.org. Or CASA Fresno/Madera 2300 Tulare St., #210, Fresno, CA 93721. Ph: 559.244.6485.