Ronald Alan Kirts (86) of Ste. Marie

Ronald Alan Kirts, age 86, of Sainte Marie, Illinois, passed away at 4:55 PM on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at his home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 15, 2023, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Sainte Marie, Illinois, with Fr Dean Probst celebrating Mass. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Sainte Marie, Illinois. Visitation will be held at the church from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, April 14, 2023, and 10:00 to 10:30 AM on Saturday, April 15. Memorials can be made in loving memory of Ron to St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church (https://www.stemariechurch.org/) or the Sainte Marie Foundation (https://www.saintemariefoundation.org/contact). Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left by clicking here.

Ron was born on October 2, 1936, in Olney, Illinois, the son of Harley and Lena (Alblinger) Kirts. He grew up in Sainte Marie and graduated from Newton Community High School with the Class of 1954. On October 1, 1957, Ron entered the service of our country, serving in the United States Army, and was honorably discharged on October 1, 1959. On May 4, 1963, Ron married Carolyn Litzelman at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Sainte Marie.

Ron worked as an electrician and a plumber, helping to provide water and power for many homes and farm buildings in the area, and he owned and operated Alblinger & Kirts Hardware Store in Sainte Marie until it closed in 2001.

Ron was an active volunteer and leader in the Sainte Marie village throughout his life. He served as the Village Council President and Fire Chief and donated his time in caring for and maintaining the public swimming pool in Sainte Marie for more than twenty years. He served as a board member and Treasurer of the Sainte Marie Foundation. As a board member, he helped to oversee the donation of his childhood home to the Foundation and assisted with the renovation of the house into the current Foundation House. In 2012, Ron was the marshal of Sainte Marie’s 175th Anniversary Celebration parade. In recent years, he volunteered watering the town’s flower baskets. For his volunteer work and community leadership, he was named Illinoisan of the Day on August 11, 2013, in a ceremony at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Ron was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Parish; he cherished his faith and the church community. He served the church in numerous capacities, including as a parish council member and religious education teacher. He also oversaw the electrical wiring for the grounds of the annual Pre-Labor Day Picnic at St. Mary’s for several decades.

Ron is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn; his sister, Joan (Don) Heneberry; his children, Rhonda Kirts of Champaign, Illinois; Karla (Jeff) Hutchinson of Littleton, Colorado; John (Becky) Kirts of Manteno, Illinois, and Terry Kirts of Indianapolis, Indiana; and seven grandchildren, Cole Boyett, Emma (Theo) McFarland, Shelby Hutchinson; Alex Kirts, Kristin Kirts; Lena Burdette, and Rachel Burdette.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Donna Kirts; his mother and father-in-law, Viola and George Litzelman; and son-in-law, Greg Burdette.