Ronald Leroy Swartz

Ronald Leroy Swartz ,83, of Peoria, Arizona, passed away on November 3, 2023, in his home. He was a caring, kind, gentle, quiet person from a very young age. He was intelligent and extremely generous.

Ron was born in Turner, Michigan on August 14, 1940, to Roy and Katie Swartz. He had 4 siblings, Elsie Roth, Joyce Miller, Dale Swartz, and Dewaine Swartz. Ron’s parents came from an Amish background and spoke Dutch in the home. Ron could understand the language, as it was spoken to him at an early age. Ron lived in Michigan, Indiana and eventually came out west for the winter as his father needed work. He was 14 years old at the time.

His family attended Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, where he met his wife Bonnie. His parents who taught him a great wealth of skills that he continued to use throughout his life. Just like his parents Ron was industrious. He had a great talent for making wood items and he also focused on learning a variety of homemaking skills with his mother, including cake decorating, embroidery, knitting, carving, and was a terrific cook. Ron also enjoyed the Pines and seasonal hunting. Ron loved sports, particularly softball. Ron was the pitcher for Sunnyslope Mennonite Church softball team. As a family he taught us to enjoy sports, by either watching, playing or spending time supporting each other. Ron was conservative in spending money, however he was generous when it came to helping others. When Ron was 3 years old, he did a lot of sleepwalking. One time, on a cold night with snow, he left his family’s home in Michigan and walked down a long road to his Uncle Henry’s home. His uncle woke up hearing him at the door and brought him back to his parents unharmed.

While residing in Glendale, Ron lived a couple houses away from his cousins and enjoyed their friendships. Ron attended Glendale High School and briefly attended Phoenix College. Ron had numerous jobs before he started a career in construction. While in high school, he worked as a farm hand at the Arthur Hart Dairy. He also mowed lawns and eventually sold the business to his dear brothers, Dale, and Dewaine. He was generous at a young age, even purchasing a vehicle for one of the family members that had a need.

Ronald met Bonnie Schrock at Sunnyslope Mennonite Church and started dating her in 1957. He married Bonnie on December 22, 1960, at Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, Phoenix, Arizona. From the beginning Ron and Bonnie learned to “love each other well”. They spent their entire life, working together, raising a family, playing together, and loving and serving God together.

Ron and Bonnie couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Cindy Lou was born in December 1961; Terry Lee was born in November of 1963; Tracy Leroy was born in April 1966.

After Ron was married to Bonnie Schrock, he was hired by the Roland family in Peoria to milk cows. Ron and Bonnie lived on a small house property rented off Cactus Road and 69th avenue amongst fields of farmland. Ron had a side business of raising Dachshunds, Bonnie took care of the children and the adult dogs and puppies with love, and this provided the side money to purchase the first acre of land. Ron always provided a way for Bonnie to be a stay-at-home mom. At the rental home he had a mini farm of chickens, cows, rabbits, which provided most of the meat for his family. Eventually Ron was hired by his father Roy when his father started Roy Swartz and Sons. Ron took the Arizona remodeling contractors test and became the qualifying partner for his dad’s business. He was drawing blueprints by hand when he was 16 years of age. Ron, with Bonnie by his side every evening after work, he built their first custom home. They had a small budget. Ron had the opportunity to take 3 months off in 1968 to build a commercial office building in Glendale across from Pedro’s. Dr Kalas was the neighbor observing that year, how diligent Ron was in building his family’s first custom home in Thunderbird Acres. Another job opportunity came building a home next door to Ron’s residence. Ron started his own business taking the Residential Contractors Test qualifying for Ron Swartz Construction.

Though Ron loved his children dearly, his favorite role was that as a grandfather. He treasured time with his grandkids and loved being their grandpa, never failing to open his arms, and loving them well. Ron enjoyed building a treehouse, set up a portable swimming pool, and spending time helping some of the grandkids to learn to ride a bikes. Ron also built the grandkids a custom go-cart with an orange flag. Ron loved to plan quite a few surprise trips to Kauai, he would even take the grandchildren along with him. He didn’t like water but for his grandchildren he did get wet in the ocean a few times. Ron was never too busy at work when the grandchildren. When they came to his office, he would pick them up into his arms and sometime would set them on his desk and talk to them. The grandchildren loved spending time with their grandpa.

Ron loved construction. Working for his own company for 38 years was challenging and rewarding. He had wisdom in making decisions, he had a business mind in investing, and he had precise skills of building a quality home. He specialized in design and drafting. He taught himself CAD and became an expert in using the program. He accomplished many accolades through the years and enjoyed the most, the long-term friendships he developed through building and remodeling. The logo for Ron Swartz Construction Inc. had “Quality Built Since 1969”. He was conscientious, meticulous, and was known for a well-built home! Ron was also intrigued with electronics. He was able to repair electrical items. Before computers were available to small business, he purchased a Heath Kit and built his own computer in the early 80’s. He then read and wrote an entire program in DBXL giving commands to the computer to create one of the first small business operations. This program relieved paperwork in the office. The program included job costing, payroll, and keeping track of taxes due. Ron also had a vision to give opportunity to the children to eventually own the business. He shared his expertise with each one of them. Cindy chose to work at the family business and has continued operating Ron Swartz Construction Inc along with her husband Ted, Terry had the opportunity to be a realtor as Ron also had a realty side business. This mentoring allowed Terry and Shannon to flourish in selling homes and leaving the business. Ron also knew Tracy’s love for cars. When Tracy asked his dad, can I try to sell cars at Sandersons would you be hurt? Ron said give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, I will have a job waiting for you. Tracy was encouraged by his dad, and he is a successful employee of Sanderson Ford. Ron also had a friendship with a young neighbor who had a small automotive business in the west valley. He heard of Jims’s business that was lost in one of the big floods that came through Phoenix. Ron purchased a piece of property and built a commercial building and invited Jim Kane to share a partnership with Kanes Automotive which is still operating today in Peoria. There are a couple of builders today operating their own companies that once worked for Ron’s company. He did not have hard feelings, as they decided to go on their own. He enjoyed seeing them and their success.

Ron loved animals and had 2 favorites in his lifetime. He had a beautiful dachshund named Mitzy in his early years and he adopted Lena, a min-Pinscher who traveled with them to Prescott in his later years. Ron had a soft spot for pets, treating each one like the valuable family member they were.

Ron was a devout Christian. He read the Bible regularly. Ron believed in Jesus Christ and pursued applying the Bible to his everyday life. Ron taught and exemplified Christianity in the home daily. He asked Jesus in his heart when he was eleven years old. He was an active member of the Christian faith, serving many roles in his lifetime. This included, Treasurer, Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher. Ron has been a member of the CalvaryPHX located in Phoenix for 20 plus years. Ron trusted and loved Jesus with all his heart. His family was blessed by this commitment of loving God’s word. He loved his Pastor Mark and Leslie and invited them into his home regularly to share meals.

Ron also volunteered on numerous boards including Finance, Building Committee, President of Salvation Army Board, President of Glencroft Board, President of the Rotary Club, and was even on the Peoria Unified School Board. Ron was asked to teach building and estimating classes at Glendale Community College. He humbly said, "I don’t have a formal education". The college said, you have a wealth of education from your experience. Go and apply for a college teachers’ certificate and he was certified. Ron taught part time for the GCC for eleven years in his spare time. He had the opportunity to teach building inspectors from the City of Glendale. Again, he developed a wealth of friends through his teaching years.

Even though Ron was a multi business owner, a volunteer in the community, a member of CalvaryPHX, an outstanding husband, an amazing father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Ronald Leroy Swartz was the best dad kids and grandkids could ever desire. Ron was a father figure for quite a few young adults throughout his lifetime. He took advantage of opportunities that would develop friendship and learning and spending time with people. Ron and Bonnie hosted foreign students to come and live in the home for 6 months to a year, when his own children were in the young teens. He had wonderful relationships with his nieces and nephews. Family was the most important on this earth. He still had active relationships and the family has received many notes and calls from these dear friends from around the world.

Ron enjoyed cars in his younger years and motorcycles when the children became young teens. One of the favorite family memories is the weekends we spent at Grandpa Swartz’s cabin at Mormon Lake and riding motorcycles on those weekends. He liked fishing in Mexico with his friend Merle Graber. He loved traveling with Bonnie and friends.

Ron eventually built his own cabin in Prescott, one of his favorite spots to retreat too. He spent a lot of time over the last several years with Bonnie and different family members who joined him for a weekend. His cabin is a warm welcoming home. Ron and Bonnie had a gift of hospitality, sharing a meals and fellowship with good friends.

We’ll always imagine hearing Ron say, “well hon” or “do you want a ham burg tonight?”. We couldn’t have asked for a better leader in the family and will miss Ron every day. Rons memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Ronald was preceded in death by Roy and Katie Swartz his parents, Elsie Roth, his sister, Dawna (Burns) Swartz his daughter-in-law. Ron is survived by Bonnie his loving wife; his 3 children, Cindy (Ted) Christner; Terry (Shannon Castle) Tracy (Kerri Stutzman). Ron has seventeen grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

We have lost an amazing husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and Heaven has gained a Saint!

A celebration of life for Ronald will be held Monday, November 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM at CalvaryPHX, 12615 Noth Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, Arizona.

Donations to Peoria Young Life would be greatly appreciated, as this has been his charity of choice for 40 years.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ChapeloftheChimesMortuary.com for the Swartz family.