Ronald Wingeart

Ronald Edward Wingeart, age 82 years of Cassopolis, Michigan; husband, father, grandfather, brother, outdoorsman, athlete, and Barron Lake Boy passed peacefully from natural causes at 9:36 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 with his wife at his side at their home.

He was born on September 28, 1942 in Niles, Michigan to Erwin L. and Olive L. (Hansen) Wingeart, was raised on Breezy Beach Road at Barron Lake, and attended Howard Community School. He moved over to Niles High School where he was a 4-year letterman in football, baseball, and wrestling. He was graduated with the Class of 1960, and continued his education at Lake Michigan College. He was employed at the former Niles plant of the National-Standard Company, serving for many years as a chemist before retiring with 32 years of service. He and his wife had moved to rural Cassopolis in 1973, and began planting Christmas trees. They ran Wingeart Pines for nearly 30 years.

Ron was confirmed at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles (Michigan), was then active at the First Presbyterian Church and attended the Granger Community Church (Indiana) for the past twenty years. 

He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed camping with family “up north” at Ludington, Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. He and wife began camper traveling out west and then spending more of the winter months in the panhandle and gulf coast of Florida after his retirement.

As a young man, he enjoyed the outdoors, running with his friends who were collectively known as the “Barron Lake Boys”.

On February 25, 1971 he was married to the former Mary Kathryn Williams, a Class of 1962 Niles High School graduate, with whom he celebrated earlier this year the remarkable 53rd anniversary of their wedding.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Olive Wingeart; and by his sister, Carole Sue Archer in 1986, and brother, Jerald Wingeart in 2022.

Surviving family includes his wife, Kay Wingeart and their children, Ronald William Wingeart of Cassopolis, Michigan, David Bruce (& JoAnne K.) Overmyer of Cassopolis, Michigan, Shondi Lynn (& Tim) Vose of Conway, Arkansas, Debra Lyn (& Adam) Clement of Hart, Michigan, and Shelly Lenae Wingeart of Cincinnati, Ohio; grandchildren Samantha Laylin, Randy Overmyer, Chelsi (& Kenton) Bowers, James Anderson, U.S. Army, SSG Victoria Kelley, U.S. Air Force, Rachael Kelley, Dane Clement, LCpl. Cade Clement, U.S. Marine Corps, and Darrian Beavers; great-grandchildren Kenley, Paxton, Reagan, Ella, Sylvia, Savine, and Darrian, Jr.; Ron’s siblings, Mary Jo (& Bruce) Scace of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Shelley (& Gary) Cline of Marcellus, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Ron Wingeart will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating. Committal services will follow at Mission Hills, Niles, Michigan. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, at the funeral home, beginning at Noon.

Contributions in memory of Ron may be made to the Niles Vikings Athletics Boosters, c/o 1441 Eagle Street, Niles, Michigan 49120. Online memories and condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Ron clearly enjoyed life, spending an abundance of time with his family and friends, fulfilling the command to love God and love people. He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed.