Passing of a MONON friend..........
Ronald Eugene Marquardt 82 of Spencer, IN departed this life peacefully and went to be with his Lord, later Saturday afternoon on March 26, 2022 after an extended illness. He was in his home surrounded by his loving family.
Ron was born to the late George and Lillian (McClellan) Marquardt on June 9, 1939 in LaCrosse, IN. Ron attended school in LaCrosse and at Indiana University as an Engineering Major.
Ron's lifelong love of railroads began as a young child, while growing up with his railroad family who worked for the Perre Marquette Railroad. Often the steam locomotives were parked behind his home during his father's lunches. Ron hired onto the Monon in 1961 as a brakeman, retiring almost 40 years later as a Regional Road Foreman of Engines with CSX. Following retirement from CSX railroad in Corbin, KY in 1999 he and beloved wife Betty Joe moved back to Owen County where the shared an active life.
Ron married Betty Joe Jones of Spencer on March 10, 1972 and they celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 2017 before she passed in 2018 Ron and Betty enjoyed extensive traveling in their RV with their little dogs, and visited many of the country's historic sites for which they shared a lifelong interest.
Ron had a passionate love of books and railroading spending many of his declining years involved in writing a book of railroad short stories based on his extensive career. During Retirement one of Ron's most passionate interests was in the Monon Railroad Historical Technical Society where he was an active member until his death. Ron was a member of the Gosport Methodist Church during his retirement thoroughly enjoying Bible study. Ron was also a member of the Spencer Masonic Lodge.
Ron survived his loving wife by 4 years and is survived by his Three daughters Lisa Adams of Shelbyville, TN and her husband Chaplin Jodi Adams, Laurey Claypool of Dixon, IA and Sherry Doles and husband Norman of Florida. Ron shared a very close relationship with cousins Vickie Sommers of Sarasota, FL, Kevin McClellan and Nevin Sheeley of Indiana and had 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Funeral Services for Ron are on Thursday March 31, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Gosport Methodist Church 119 N. 7th St Gosport, IN with Rev. Dwight Wood officiating. Burial will be in Gosport Cemetery. Visitation for Ron is Wednesday 4-7 pm at Chandler Funeral Home in Ellettsville with a Masonic Service at 7:00 pm and 1 hour before service at the church on Thursday.
https://monon.org/people/rem/rem.php
