Ronald “Ron/Ronnie” E. Pells 66 of Leesburg, FL, was born Nov 29, 1956 in Salina, KS., and passed away on Jan 31, 2023, with his family by his side. He met his wife Janet of 47 years in history class their senior year and the rest as they say is “history”. They married in August 1975 after graduation and later had a daughter, Christina Keen and a son Kerry Pells. His children later gave him three beautiful grandchildren.
He enjoyed the time he spent with his son Kerry coaching him with baseball, wrestling and football. Vacationing in the Branson Missouri area with his family brought him great happiness and he dreamed of living there one day. Water skiing, boating, playing softball and attending NASCAR races with his friends and family brought him great joy along with showing everyone who ever came to visit the sights both on land and in the water. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention his love of the Kansas City Chiefs & KC Royals.
Ron started working at the family business (R&G Shop Rag Service, Inc.) with his dad while still in high school. When American Linen purchased the family business, he stayed on board moving up through the company and ultimately moving around country including the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and ultimately settling in Florida. In 2007 after retiring from his work at the linen company, Ron jokingly told his wife and daughter that he was going to work at Disney as a bus driver. He applied and was asked instead to work in the Watercraft department of Walt Disney specifically at the Magic Kingdom. He was aptly nicknamed “Captain Ron” by coworkers and it stuck. You could find friends and family alike referring to him as Captain Ron both on and off the water. After a lifetime of loving being in, around and on the water, he joined the cast at Disney and created lasting memories and made dreams come true for so many families. He was even one of the select few who piloted the Disney charter boat, The Grand One. He loved to share his Disney stories with family and friends who came to visit and with guests at Magic Kingdom. You could always count on Ron to be ready to give a guided boat tour both at Disney and on the lakes, intercoastal waterways and the oceans around Florida. Anyone who met him would remember his vibrant smile, unique sense of humor and kindness given to all.
Ron is proceeded in death by his parents George & Dorothy Pells. He is survived by wife Janet, high school sweetheart and love of his life; his daughter Christy Keen, (Mike) of Clermont, FL., son Kerry Pells of Omaha NE and grandchildren, Hannah, Sophia and Tyler. Ron is also survived by 5 sisters Deborah Roper of Abilene, KS., Cindy Dimitri (Mike) of Smolan, KS., Sharon Spain (David) of Wichita, KS., Susie Cossel (Scott) of Tescott, KS., and Lori Wuthnow (Roger) of Manchester, KS and their families as well as his beloved brother-in-law’s, sister-in-law’s and 20 nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Florida on February 10, 2023 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Hawthorne of Leesburg’s (102 Palo Verde Dr.) club house.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Salina Kansas on March 4, 2023 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at The Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Zero Donate to End Prostate Cancer. Information for donating online or by check can be found at https://zerocancer.org/fight/how-to-donate/.
