Ronald Rye

Ronald Rye

Ronald Joseph Rye of Rudyard was a longtime truck driver, driving trucks in the Lansing area, Eastern Upper Peninsula, and around the state of Michigan. Mr. Rye passed away at the age of 51 Sunday afternoon, July 29, 2007, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.

He was born in Flint to Richard Willis and Loretta Lee (nee Rollo) Rye March 15, 1956.

Mr. Rye grew up in Pickford, and moved to Flint to work in construction. He later relocated to Lansing and started driving trucks. This is where he met his wife, Colleen Marie Ross.

They married October 4, 1986, and in 1997, the couple moved to Rudyard, where Mr. Rye continued to drive trucks.

Mr. Rye was a member of the Teamsters Union. He enjoyed cooking and baking, and he especially enjoyed pickling. He is remembered for baking pies to give to friends and neighbors. He liked spending time and working on his hobby farm, where he raised horses, cows, sheep, pigs, emus, and turkeys. Mr. Rye was fond of working on and riding his John Deere tractor. He loved spending time with his family, camping, and working the horses with his daughter, Jessie; and hunting with his sons, Ben and Zack.

Mr. Rye is survived by his wife, Colleen; his 15-year-oldtriplets, Zackery, Jessica, and Benjamin Rye of Rudyard; his daughters, Nicole Rye of Flint and Alicia Rye of Flushing; three grandchildren, Summer Rye, Taylor Quintella, and Adon Quintella. He is also survived by three brothers and their families, Richard Rye of St. Ignace, Tim and Diane Rye of Kentucky, and David and Tammy Rye of St. Ignace; a sister and her family, Susan and John Ackley of Traverse City, and his father, Richard, of Pickford. Mr. Rye is also survived and mourned by his wife's family, including her parents, Eugene and Polly Ross; her three brothers and their families, Perry and Sheri Ross, Grant and Trina Ross, and Brian and Nancy Ross; her two sisters and their families, Cheryl and Dennis Hendrickson and Gwen Malaska, and numerous nieces and nephews who will miss their "Uncle Ron."

Mr. Rye was preceded in death by his mother, Loretta, his brother in-law, Randy Malaska, and his uncle, "Okay" Harry.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 1, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford. Services will be the following morning, August 2, at 11 a.m., also at the funeral home. The family welcomes casual dress.