Ronald Burton Marquardt

Ronald Burton Marquardt, 81, of Nevada Missouri passed away Sept. 6, at Moore-Few Nursing Home. He was born March 8, 1936, on a farm near Rich Hill Missouri in the community of Sprague the son of Burton John Marquardt and Leta Mae Willsey-Marquardt. Later he and his parents moved to Nevada when he was around six years of age. After selling the farm property, they later moved to Kansas City, Missouri. His father worked for Chicago Bridge and Iron, requiring the family to travel throughout the Midwest attending many different grade schools. He attended George Rogers Clark High School his Junior/Senior year and graduated in 1953. Then he attended Purdue University in Indiana. While in Indiana, he met and married his wife Lynda Glover on Jan. 12, 1957, at the Church of Christ in Whiting, Ind. They then moved to Columbia, Mo., where Ron attended the University of Missouri graduating with a degree in business administration. Their first son Jeffrey was born in Columbia. After graduation, Ron took a job with Shelter Insurance Company representing them for the next 43 years. His first job was as an Insurance Adjustor in Joplin. They lived in Joplin for six years and two more sons were born, Jonathan and Jason. In 1967 he was transferred to Owensboro, Ky., and again in 1968 to Lexington, Ky., where he was the assistant state claims manager. In December of 1968, Ron took over a Shelter Insurance Agency in Nevada. Completing the family, Justin was born in Nevada where his wife still resides.

Ron also pursued a second career close to his heart, that of raising cattle up until his retirement in 2003. Ron was a Baptist having joined the First Baptist Church of Nevada by baptism in 1956. The Rev. Dodson baptized Ron, his dad and brother on the same day. He was elected and served on the Nevada School Board for 15 years, served on the McGinnis Youth Center Board, was Nevada High Booster Club President and a member and president of the Nevada Jaycees and was active in organizing the Jaycee Rodeo for several years.

Ron enjoyed quail hunting and fishing when time permitted. His first priority was guiding his family and following their many activities.

In addition to his wife Lynda he is survived by four sons, Jeffrey Marquardt and his wife, Cindy, Springfield, Mo., Jonathan Marquardt, Sacramento, Calif., Jason Marquardt and his wife, Joni, Niceville, Fla., and Justin Marquardt, St. Joseph, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Kelsey, Corey, Kayley, Jay, Jackson, Ryan, Sara and Shelby; one brother, Roger Marquardt and his wife, Deborah, Des Moines, Iowa; one sister, Pamela Henry and her husband, Ross, Kimberling City, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Ferry Funeral Home with the Rev. Hubert Fox officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Those who wish may contribute to the National Parkinson Foundation or Fairview-Rider Cemetery of Rich Hill.