RON REUTER

Ron Reuter, age 68, of Hampshire, IL, passed away after a tragic and fierce battle with debilitating heart complications, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Though his body weakened, his independent spirit never faltered, nor his faith, and now claims the promise of his Savior.    

Ron was born December 8, 1955, in Elgin, to Dorothy and Norm Coombs.

Dorothy and Norm eventually walked separate paths, but Dorothy found love again in Ken Reuter who later adopted Ron. Despite the family changes, the foundation of love was held constant by all his parents who continued to support Ron as he grew and pursued his childhood dreams of being a cowboy.  

Ron graduated from Elgin High School with the class of 1974. Happy to see his alma mater in the rear-view mirror, Ron found work as a truck driver for Ray Schrieber Disposal in Plato Center and in recent years, a cement truck for Ozinga until his retirement 2017. J & R Feeds was born between friends in 1998 and became a staple in the horse community. It expanded over the years until October of 2022 when they passed the reins to new owners, but not before years of “BS” and stories galore were passed between countless friends across the countryside.

Ron met the love of his life, Rhonda, who was a hairdresser and worked with his mom, but it was through a mutual love of horses that a relationship galloped from that first day to the altar four months later.   

Ron was a longtime member and past president of the Fox Valley Saddle Association, and made his name known within the Wisconsin Ropers Association, the Illiana Team Ropers Association as well as the USTRC, the United States Team Roping Championships. As a notable notch in his belt, Ron also won High Point for the Nation in Non-Pro Poles and Barrels in 1993 for he Appaloosa Horse Club. 

His work ethic was iron clad, and his durability came a close second behind his faith. Ron’s love for his family and friends knew no bounds and was first to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Fate stepped into his life when he picked up a rope in January of 1994 and never put it down. A day didn’t pass that he wasn’t roping, reading about roping, watching videos about roping or pantomiming that he was roping when in fact he had no rope. He was a quick study and before long, his deft hands and hard won callouses helped him reel in multiple saddles, a list of accolades and prizes that helped cement his newfound reputation. As a loving father, he enjoyed sharing his love of horses and roping with his daughters, relishing the time he spent with them in leadline and roping. Ron had a heart that beat for his family, especially for his grandchildren who lived as a constant gleam in his eye. Hundreds of horse shows, competitions, track, wrestling, baseball, and soccer kept him busy cheering them on in the stands. Ron lived his life as a cowboy to its fullest, often remarking that, “A bad day of roping is better than the good day at work”. So it was that when retirement beckoned, Ron was only too happy to hop in next to Rhonda and pilot their Living Quarters Horse Trailer in a beeline to Arizona where Rhonda could trail ride to her heart’s content and Ron could rope from sunrise to sunset. In times, Ron seemed to be set on all sides by a cascading line of setbacks to his health. He battled hard to beat the odds and very nearly made it. In the end, Ron took his final run in the arena of life and raced to a Heavenly finish and is now crowned in glory.

He now leaves a broken hearted family including his wife of 43 years, Rhonda Reuter; two daughters: Sarah (Bill) Yakle and Becky (Mike) Rothecker; four grandchildren: Wyatt and Cooper Yakle and Kaylee and Ashlynn Rothecker; two sisters: Kathy (Rick) Glefke and Jean (Bill) Samples; sister-in-law, Debbie Reuter; his step-mother, Bonnie Coombs; many cousins and enough friends to fill the horizon. 

He is reunited with his biological father, Norm Coombs; his parents, Dorothy and Ken Reuter and two brothers Jesse Reuter and Kevin Reuter, who passed away in infancy.

Visitation will be from 9-12 with a funeral service to follow, Saturday, April 13, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road Burlington, IL 60109. Interment will be at Burlington Cemetery, Burlington, IL. Please dress casual, or as if you are going to a roping.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Ron’s name. Checks may be made to the “Ronald R. Reuter Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Memories and tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can find Ron’s full life story.

Visitation will be from 9-12 with a funeral service to follow, Saturday, April 13, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road Burlington, IL 60109. Interment will be at Burlington Cemetery, Burlington, IL. Please dress casual, or as if you are going to a roping.