Ronald W. Mersman

Ronald W. Mersman, age 76, of Scipio, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at Parkview Heights in Garnett, Kansas.

Ron was born on April 1, 1943, at Garnett, Kansas. He was the first of four children born to Ralph and Florence (Wolken) Mersman. Ron grew up on the family farm near Scipio, Kansas and graduated from Garnett High School with the class of 1961. Ron worked on the farm and then with his father on his milk route. He enjoyed playing town team baseball with the Richmond team. One of his proudest baseball accomplishments was pitching a no hitter against Westphalia. Ron was best known in his younger years for trap shooting. It was his favorite hobby for many years, traveling to competitions in Missouri, Ohio, Las Vegas, Oklahoma, and Texas, breaking 199 out of 200 at many of the shoots. He was able to break 200 straight at a shoot in Ottawa, on September 1, 1968. Ron also made the Kansas All State Trapshooting Team several years. On June 26, 1971, he was united in marriage to Mary Beth Rues, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greeley, Kansas. This union was blessed with three children. Ron worked at Commodore Homes in Ottawa for many years, until it’s closing in the 1980s. He then worked as a division manager at E&E Manufacturing in Lawrence until it’s closing. In September 2019 Ron retired as an estimator from Midwest Cabinet Company in Ottawa. He was proud of the fact that he worked with his son, Craig, at Midwest for the last 15 years of his career. In Ron’s later years he took up the hobby of making barn wood picture frames. He eventually perfected his process, and it evolved into a small cottage business. Over the 10 years of making frames he made many custom frames, he loved to craft and create. He was an avid fan of the Royals, the Chiefs and KU basketball. He always looked forward to baseball starting in the spring. His greatest love was his grandchildren, Kaitlyn (“Sweets” as he called her) and Henry. Spending time with Kaitlyn, buying lottery tickets for himself and candy for her combined three of his favorite things into a single trip to Short Stop.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 48 years, Mary Beth Mersman on April 24, 2019; and a stillborn baby in 1973.

He is survived by his children, Kellie Wight and husband, Jeremy of Garnett, Kansas; Craig Mersman of Garnett; Kimberley Mersman of Carlsbad, California; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Mersman and Henry Wight; brother, Thomas E. Mersman and wife, Lynette of Paola, Kansas; two sisters, Arlene Udelhofen and husband, Jack of Ottawa, Kansas; Cynthia Hinkle and husband, Dean of Bonner Springs, Kansas.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, January 6, 2020, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Scipio, Kansas. Burial will follow at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery. The family will greet friends following a 6:00 PM rosary on Sunday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ron Mersman Memorial Fund and left in the care of the funeral home.