Ronald Lester Deatsch

Formerly of Streator, IL

The usually boisterous and talkative Ronald Lester Deatsch was nervous, smitten even, to the point that he stayed in the car while his friend walked up to the front door to pick up Joann Margaret Davitt for the teenagers’ first date.

Soulmates, Ron and Joann married five years later, on July 30, 1955, in Churchville, Iowa, near their hometowns on the outskirts of Des Moines. Their love for each other was obvious and infectious.

Ron was born Dec. 27, 1932, in Tiffin, Iowa, relocated and went to high school in Martensdale with Joann. He was envious of her jump shot, so much so that when he chose his basketball jersey number, he picked 33, which Joann had worn since freshman year. She was impressed that he weathered the elements and walked uphill and into the wind to and from everywhere he traveled.

Shortly after their engagement, Ron served overseas with the Army during the Korean War, where, it turns out, he received his favorite Christmas present - a pen from a German family. After returning to the states, Ron and Joann married and raised three children, Debra, Dale and Diane. They settled on a small family farm in Indianola, Iowa. In 1966, the family of five uprooted to Streator, Illinois, to open a hardware store, Coast to Coast.

Ron was well known in the community, as a member of Amvets, Eagles Club, Veterans of Foreign War, the Moose Lodge, and Shab’s Tavern. He also helped a petty thief steal bicycles from his own store. Ron only realized his mistake after confronting his employees for their lack of customer service. “Who sold those bicycles and didn’t help the customer load them onto his vehicle?” Ron asked upon returning from lunch and fastening the bikes to the roof of a stranger’s car. After a few moments of silence, Ron realized he had assisted in a crime.

He was extremely involved in his children’s lives and supported them, both academically and athletically.

Ron loved all sports, except playing golf. He made a hole-in-one on April 30, 1969, for which he was issued a trophy, and then proceeded to get frustrated after every subsequent swing. He passed down his love of competition to his eight grandchildren, Jacob, Zachary, Gregory, Kelly, Alison, Jessica, Ryan and Melissa.

Though Ron and Joann retired to Lake Havasu, Arizona, in 1988, they frequently visited Florida and Illinois to watch their grandchildren compete on the hardwood, ice rink, baseball diamond and volleyball court. Ron often liked to instill hot tips before a big game.

“Lose one high and inside in warmups to scare the batter.”

“Take a foul right when you check in, so you can get your name in the paper.” Apparently, he didn’t think Joann passed down her record-setting jump shot.

Other memorable quips of his include: “Fill up the bag and the bucket of ice separately at hotel ice machines so you can get double the ice in one trip.”

“Better to be in ship shape than the shape of a ship.”

“You gotta get up early to find a girl as good as her.”

“Columbus took a chance.”

“Never trump your partner’s ace,” a cardinal rule of Euchre, his favorite card game for which he always played to win, regardless of the opponent.

All of his grandchildren were his favorite. He told them each as much individually. “I wouldn’t trade ya,” was another Ron classic. Family was always most important to Ron. “I’m blessed,” he often said. “I’ve got the best family in the world.”A mantra of his, whether it involved looking for a parking spot, changing careers or taking a chance on a relationship was, “Always go for the gusto.”

After 91 years of imparting wisdom, working hard, making people laugh and truly caring about and for those around him, Ron passed of natural causes on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He was born to Firman and Martha Deatsch and is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joann Margaret (nee Davitt); his children, Debra (Steve) Wolfe, Dale (Martha) Deatsch, and Diane (Bruce) Cappis; his grandchildren Jacob and Zachary Salata; Kelly (Brad) Deatsch-Robinson, Alison (Zachary) Deatsch, Melissa (Frankie) Saitz, Gregory (Jess), Jessica and Ryan Cappis; his great grandchildren, Jackson, Kendall, Emma, Layla, Caroline and Ryder, his siblings Rosalie Gedler, John Deatsch and Judy (Bill) Gilliam; and his sisters-in-law Donna, Judy, Carolyn, and Marita Deatsch.

He is preceded in death by his brothers, Firman (Betty), Elmer, William, Eugene, and Ivan Deatsch; his sister-in-law, Shirley Deatsch, and his brother-in-law, Konrad Gedler.

A visitation will be held 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 at Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 and from 9 a.m. until the time of mass at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 at St. Edna Catholic Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. For those unable to attend the Mass, a livestream can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@St.Ednaparish_AH/featured

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, www.alzfdn.org, in the honor of his wife, Joann Deatsch.