Ronald John Gangl Sr.

Ronald John Gangl Sr., 76, of Bovey MN died on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Fairview

Range Medical Center in Hibbing after a long battle with cancer.

Ron was born on November 17, 1947 to Paul and Bernadine (Finken) Gangl in

Grey Eagle, MN. He was the oldest of 10 children. In 1952 the family moved to the

Calumet area. Ron graduated from Greenway High School in 1966 and then

attended Staples Vocational School to become a machinist.

He worked as a machinist for Cleveland Cliffs Mining Company in Taconite, MN

and Ishpeming, MI. In 1983 he started at Blandin Wood Products/Potlatch as a

machinist and maintenance supervisor. Ron served as a Union Steward, Greenway

Township Supervisor, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Nashwauk

Credit Union. In 1988 he built and established Ron’s Korner Market/Liquor and

ran the store for 30 plus years. He took pride in teasing and joking with customers

to brighten their day. Many people would comment that he made their day

better.

Ron was a die-hard deer hunter, staying in his stand from before sunrise to after

sunset throughout the season. He bought deer rifles for his grandsons, but Jayden

was the only one who could match him on the hours in the deer stand. Ron had

some nice mounts made and collected many nice racks that most would have

mounted as well.

He enjoyed farming and making hay on the same Warba land as his father. He was

proud of his big blue tractors and once he got in the seat, he wouldn’t quit until it

was done. He wore out his grandsons the years they helped, but rewarded their

efforts by allowing them to sell the hay and use the money for their education.

Ron was most at peace when he was working, seemingly tireless at any task. He

enjoyed helping people with their building projects and wasn’t afraid to tell them

how to do them. In all his roles, Ron displayed a talent for improvising creative

repairs to make any machine run long enough to finish the project at hand.

He especially liked catching bluegills for a good fish fry, preferably scaled and fried

whole. When fishing, he lit up like a little kid when he was catching a nice one. He

shared that joy with granddaughter Kylie and his phone background is a picture of

her first fish.

After 19 years of dating and 5 years of engagement, Ron finally married Connie

Johnson on October 21, 2006. They have really enjoyed their retirement watching

wildlife from the house they had built on Little Sand Lake.

Survivors include his wife, Connie; daughters, Ronda (Ryan) Patton, Kimberly

(Mark) Moe, Tammy Godec; sons Ron Gangl Jr., and Rory Johnson; Grandchildren:

Jake (Bri) Patton, John (Nicky) Patton, Sarah (John) Nienhuis, Jacob Moe, Kayden

Moe, Isaiah Moe, Nikolas Godec, Alyssa Johnson and Kylie (Snugglebug) Johnson;

Great-granddaughters Joanna Patton and Emily Nienhuis; extra special nieces:

Crystal Purdie, Caci Richards and Callie Edminster; brothers Ken (Judy), Dave

(Kari), Arnold (Kathy), and Gary (Barb) Gangl and sister Jane (Keith) Orazem and

many other family and friends. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul Jr., infant brothers James,

Robert, and Richard and grandson Jayden Gangl.

A funeral service will be held 12 noon Monday, April 15, 2024 at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Coleraine. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am until 11:30 am at the church. Interment will be

at the Maple Hill Cemetery Columbarium at a later date. Ron’s family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Fairview Range Medical Center and Essentia Clinic in

Hibbing for his excellent care.

Arrangements are with the Peterson Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services of Coleraine.  To leave an online message of condolence please visit our website at www.petersonfuneralchapelofcoleraine.com.

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