Ronald Eugene Hess, 76 of Emporia, Kansas passed away on Wednesday evening December 2, 2020, at Via Christi Saint Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Ron had battled lung fibrosis for the past 5 years and passed due to the complications of his lung disease.

He was born February 3, 1944 in LeRoy, Kansas. The son of Marion Lawrence and Marian June (Cottingham) Hess.  He graduated from LeRoy High School in 1962 and attended Allen County Community College. He worked for Dolly Madison in Emporia, Kansas for 31 years and retired in 2003. He also acquired a second position as a welder for Dolly Madison.

On June 6, 1965 he married his High School Sweetheart, Julie Ann Storrer, at the United Methodist Church in LeRoy, Kansas. They had celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this past June. To this union two daughters were born. Leslie (Greg) Chadwick, of Emporia, Kansas and Traci (David) Reynolds of Belle Plaine, Kansas. His grandchildren are Blake and Darian Chadwick and Cullen, Mallory and Nolan Reynolds, who were the light of his life.

Ron enjoyed family vacations, his grandchildren and playing games with friends and family. He loved music, from dancing in the kitchen to singing in the car. He also loved to collect small classic cars. He enjoyed watching sporting events from basketball to football to baseball. Some of his favorite teams were KU and the Kansas City Chiefs. Ron and Julie also enjoyed their winter vacations being snowbirds in Yuma, Arizona for several years. He was also a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Emporia, Kansas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Larry, (older brother), and Steve (younger brother).

A come and go visitation will be held for friends of the family on Tuesday, December 8th from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington, KS.  Masks are required and no physical contact will be allowed with the family based on the pandemic.

A private family funeral will be held at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington on December 9th with Pastor Gene McIntosh.  Graveside services will be at 1 pm, Wednesday, December 9th at Logue Cemetery, LeRoy Kansas. The public is welcome to attend the graveside services.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mayo Clinic for Lung Disease Research and sent in care of Jones Funeral Home P.O. Box 277 Burlington KS, 66839.

The family wanted to share this letter.

Hi There!

I am the nurse who took care of Ron the last two nights in Emporia before he was transferred. I just wanted to let you know that you and Ron have been on my heart these last several days, and we have all been praying so hard for you both. The night before he was intubated, Ron and I talked for almost an hour about life, and specifically you. He kept circling back to your relationship and how you first met, your two beautiful girls, and what a wonderful life you created together. He said over and over again that you are the love of his life, and it is so clear to me how much he absolutely adores you.

I just wanted to tell you about our conversation and that all of us in Emporia are praying and sending our love. God bless you.