Funeral services for Ronald T. Ellegard of Albert Lea will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Oakland Lutheran Church in Oakland Township. The Rev. Joshua Enderson will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea area veterans groups.

Ron passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at his home in Albert Lea. He was 70.

Ron was born June 2, 1949, in Albert Lea. He was the son of Vernon and Harriet (Nelson) Ellegard. Ron graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1967 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1969. He was honorably discharged in 1971 from Navy ship USS Oriskany CVA-34. Ron completed his college education at Riverland Community College and specialized in auto body repair.

In 1977 Ron was united in marriage to Susan (Leidal) Goodnature. The couple later divorced. Their union brought Kelly (stepdaughter), Kerri, Kristy and Rory.

Ron kept himself very active throughout his years with a variety of jobs and hobbies. He spent a few years farming, working at the Hayward elevator and driving a gravel truck. Ron had a passion and gift for auto body repair. He worked out of his home to repair cars and trucks for family and friends. Ron later retired from Enderes Tool Co. and Steelworkers Union 6803.

Ron was a member of Oakland Lutheran Church. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, reading Louis L’Amour, and watching John Wayne Westerns, the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins and NASCAR.

Ron loved to travel, often hitting the road to explore new adventures. He frequently traveled to spend time with his family in Arizona. Ron enjoyed attending veterans events and having morning coffee with his good friends at McDonald’s. One of his greatest joys was the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. Ron was Grandpa to the letter — whether it was spending time with the boys on the farm, riding ATVs, playing in the pool with the girls, sliding down Skinner’s Hill, going on a spontaneous adventure or wearing the ugly sweater at Christmas, Ron was about doing it all. He valued family, cherished his grandchildren and treasured the time with his children.

Ron is survived by his children Kelly (Laurie Oelslager) Goodnature of Mankato, Kerri Ellegard of Minnesota Lake, Kristy (Jon Rathke) Ellegard of Austin and Rory (Reina) Ellegard of Chandler, Arizona; and grandchildren Karter, Kole, Ashley, Kaylee, Brinley and Cooper. He is also survived by sister, Karen (David) VanReese, of Hollandale; niece, Tiffany (Brent) Smith, and their daughter, Emily; nephew, Timothy (Amber) VanReese, and their son, Hunter; aunt, Marlene Wiese, of Iowa; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Harriet (Nelson) Ellegard; his grandparents; great-uncle, Henry Ellegard; an aunt; an uncle; and cousins, including Colby Sailor and Greg Hatle.