Date of Death: November 17, 2019
Service Details
In accordance with Ronald’s wishes cremation has taken place and a celebration of his life will be held at Hohner Funeral Home on Saturday, November 23, 2019 with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Ted Koehl officiating.
Obituary Notice
Ronald (Ron) Lee Summers, passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2019, at the age of 76, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Centerville, Michigan on September 26, 1943, to William Ronald and Evelyn Etna (Hill) Summers.
Ron grew up in Leonidas, MI working at his parents Shell station. That’s where he realized his love of cars and painted his first car at 15 years old. He graduated from Colon High School in 1961 and worked various jobs before being hired at Chuck’s Body Shop in Three Rivers, MI, in 1963, where he continued to repair and paint vehicles until he retired in 2009.
Saturday evenings, after hours, the Shell Station was always filled with country music. Family and friends would show up with their guitars and have a jam session. This is where Ron picked up his love of country music. From the early days to the current country music of today, Ron loved it all.
In 1963, he married his true love Sharon Lea Lash and welcomed a daughter in 1966 and a son in 1969. Holidays were always filled with family and his brother, Bill, would always play country music with his guitar.
Ron and Sharon spent their early years camping with their kids. He took a brand-new extended van, cut the roof off it and added a taller extended top so he could stand up in it. He built the inside of the van with a stove, refrigerator, sink, and beds so Sharon had all the amenities. His type of camping was to park in the middle of nowhere with loads of family and friends surrounding a campfire every weekend.
After retiring, both he and Sharon spent lots of time in South Haven enjoying Lake Michigan on their boat. They loved going fishing and having weekend get togethers with family and friends. They always enjoyed people stopping by to visit.
In 2015, Ron & Sharon moved north where he turned a small 24 x 24 hunting cabin (with no bathroom) into a beautiful home double that size. He designed and made the kitchen cabinets and drawers and learned to lay hardwood floors. Woodworking was a large portion of his creativity and enjoyment. If you needed something built, he was your guy.
And, of course, he had to have a pole barn larger than the house for all of his toys.
In the early years, Ron hunted with his Father-in-Law and lots of relatives on state land near Manton. Later on, Ron would hunt with his Son and Son-in-Law when they could. He only bagged 3 deer in his life but really enjoyed being in the woods with nature. After retiring, Ron and Sharon started to feed the deer in the winter months. They loved to see them with their fawns, but unfortunately that stopped when the baiting rule went into effect. They “deer-ly” miss their animal friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents and brother William (Bill). Left to cherish Ron’s memory are his wife of 56 years: Sharon Lea Summers; children: Teri (Tom) Reick and Ron (Mischa Tucker) Summers; grandchildren: Jordyn (Alex) Cornell, Brittany (Mike Birge) Summers, Brandon (Shelly Gruber) Summers, Mischa Summers, Stephen Butler, Seth Butler, and Samuel Butler; great grandchildren: Caleb Cornell, Leonard Baldwin III, Carter Lee Summers, Mya Contreras, and Isiah Tyler-Maxson, and Sister-in-Law: Bonita (Bonnie) Summers, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Additional Information
Memorials made in Ron’s memory may be directed to The Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation or Autumnwood of McBain.
Please Leave Your Condolences
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Sharon and family,
I was so surprised to read Ron’s obituary in the Three Rivers paper. I had left MI on Thursday headed for Texas, and didn’t read any papers since Wednesday.
I’m so sorry for your loss and have great memories of all of you, and of Rog and Ron working at Chuck’s, Time sure flies and it seems impossible that Rog has been gone nearly 11 years. I still miss him every day!
My prayers are with you and your family in this time of loss.
sharon, it was great working with you all those years and your husband certainly showed genuine love for you. just made me like you even more because you also were genuine, comforting to me in times of chaos at the commical news love julie slentz
I’m so sorry for your loss and for your family. I know Lee and Ron had their fun times deerhunting and telling stories with the guys. Ron and dad can carry those stories on now in heaven and reminisce. Those great memories will always be with them.. All our love and hugs coming at you in your time of grieving. Prayers to you in the coming days.
My life has been deeply impacted by Ron and Sharon’s devotion to each other. From the day I met them both I saw and experienced the quality of life that a great love can produce.
I’m forever greatfull that God brought them into my life.
8th street boat Captain Ron, the old saying, it takes a village to raise a child. I was one of them and he had a very big impact on my life. God speed Sharon ❤️ Bill Henschel
I so enjoyed reading about his life, I also was from Leonidas and graduated with Ron me and my family were steady customers of their gas station, I’m so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with your family
Thinking of your family and mourning your loss. Keeping Sharon close in thought and prayer. “Summers Fun“, won’t be the same without you.
Heaven gained an angel. Aunt Sharon and him would call on those special days, make me smile. Thank you for that. Aunt Sharon, I know you have Teri and Ron, but you have me too.
Janie said it all. R.I.P. Uncle.
Ps… I’m sorry what I told you, many years ago, you don’t look a thing like Elton John at all.
When Bill passed away you and Sharon were always there for me,always checking to see if I was ok. Your passing is just as sad as his was. But you are with him now and will be missed by so many. Say hi to your brother
Words cannot describe what a wonderful Uncle he truly was. After dad passed he would call on those special days because he knew I needed that pick me up. The smile, the laughter, everything about him will live on inside me. So very sorry for your loss Aunt Sharon, Teri, Ron and families. Love and hugs to you all.
I loved those phone calls…I will miss them.