Ronald W. Haefer

Ronald W. Haefer, 79, of Bucyrus, died following a broken heart and recent health issues on Monday, October 1, 2018 at home where he was surrounded by loved ones.



He was born November 22,1938 in Morgantown, WV to Wilbert G. Haefer (deceased 1952) and Florence E. Lindenmeyer Haefer (deceased 2016). Ron was also preceded in death by his youngest son, Randolph A. Haefer, who died, October 17.2007 and his wife of 57 years whom he married in October of 1960, Marlo (Maley) Haefer who passed earlier this year.



He is survived by two children, Lee (Teri) Haefer and Kimberly (Scott) Kent; six grandchildren, Travis Haefer, Andy (Danielle) Stinehelfer, Justin Slate, Mason Kent, Dalton Kent and Madison Kent; one great grandchild, Siferah Haefer; two siblings, Richard (Vianney Perdomo) Haefer and Linda Sue Siebert as well as many great nieces and nephews.



Ron moved to the Bucyrus area in 1944 and has lived in this area ever since. He graduated from Holmes-Liberty High School in 1956 and was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bucyrus. He was a POC for the Bucyrus Fire Department for five years and worked the ambulance service during the early 1960s. He traveled the highways hauling steel and general freight for 19 years for various companies. After that he attended Marion Technical College, graduating in 1989 summa cum laude with a degree in Applied Industrial Engineering. He then worked and retired from Buckeye Machine Fabricators Inc. in Forest Ohio as chief design engineer. Upon retirement from Buckeye, he went to work at AutoZone in Bucyrus where he was promoted to parts sales manager after the first year. He enjoyed meeting the public and working with them and retired from there after nine years of service.



He served on the Bratwurst Festival for a number of years prior to 1995. He was a substitute teacher at Pioneer Joint Vocational School for several years, teaching both diesel and auto Mechanics. Ron served on the advisory board for drafting for High Point Vocation School in Bellefontaine for several years and more recently on two advisory boards for Marion Technical College (mechanical and industrial engineering). He was an avid NASCAR fan and would stop everything to watch a race on TV. He had met and visited many teams, owners and drivers over the years, with Bill Elliott being his favorite. He also had the opportunity to do some engineering work for several teams in years past. He enjoyed building, repairing and programming computers. He was a charter member of the NASCAR Members club, strong supporter for law enforcement and was a charter member of the Buckeye State Sheriffs association and a member of the Ford Racing Club.



Ron was a dedicated member of the Moose Fraternity holding many positions on the board of Bucyrus Family Center 669 for many years, was governor two years and held various chairs in District #7 of the state. He was a Moose Legionnaire and held a Fellowship degree and was also a life member of the Higher Degree Council. He held an international position of TTC installing the fraternity's computer for a couple of years.



Ron was an endowed member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, Bucyrus Ohio Lodge # 139, Grand Lodge Royal & Selected masons Council # 83, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons Bucyrus Chapter # 160 and Knights Templar Commandery # 036 of Marion, Ohio.



His family will receive friends from 2-5 pm Sunday, October 7 at Wise Funeral Service. Masonic rites will conclude the evening and begin at 5:00 pm. His funeral will be held at 10:30 am Monday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Mike Greenler officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Heights Memory Gardens.



Contributions can be made payable to Heartland Hospice and will be accepted through the funeral home or at the church on the morning of his funeral.