Rollie Rolland Ronish Sr., of Quincy, passed away on April 6th, 2011 at Central Washington Hospital surrounded by the family that he loved with all his heart. He was born in Sturgis, South Dakota on May 9th, 1924 to George Angeles Ronish and Annetta Halvorson. Rollie moved to Washington State with his parents in 1935. He was not only a hero to our family; he was also a hero of the United States Army and served during World War II. He earned the American Theater Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal during the battles at Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
After WWII he was a logger in and around the Kent & North Bend area. Rollie married Lila Mae Baze on April 15th, 1950 in Angle Lake, Washington. In 1958 Rollie and Lila moved their family to Forks, WA, where they lovingly raised six children. There he carried on the
family business of Ronish & Anderson Logging Company for twenty years. Before retiring in 1987 he returned to logging in the Cascades. In 1988 Rollie and Lila moved to Alaska where Rollie enjoyed fishing in Prince William Sound. When Lila retired in 1993 they moved to Quincy to be with their family.
Few men are brave enough to be themselves, to live simply and let love be the guiding light in their lives. Rollie was one such man. Even though he experienced war and struggle, he never was hardened by it. He lived every moment with love in his heart and joy in his smile. Throughout their sixty-one years of marriage Rollie taught his children to live by his example, to find the joy and love in every moment of their lives. His eighteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren were more precious to him than the most precious jewels, and he made certain they knew it. Rollie instilled in his family an abiding love for one another and for life. He leaves behind a legacy of joy, of laughter, and, most importantly, of love.
He is survived by his wife Lila, his brothers Walter and Floyd Ronish, and his sisters Charlotte Taylor and Rosie Gardner. He is also survived by his children: Rolinda Tubbs(Allen), Rollie Ronish Jr.(Karen), Valerie Noelke(Mike), Teresa Hale(Joe), and Johnine Ronish. He is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Albert, Florence, Robert, and Mabel, and his son George.
Visitation will be held in the Relief Society Room at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Quincy on Monday, April 11th from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. with funeral services to follow at 11:00 A.M. also at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Quincy. Concluding services will follow in the Quincy Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation in memory of Rollie Ronish Sr. Information on how to donate can be found at www.kidney.org.
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