Ronald Irvin Welton, 86, died at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois on Sunday, December 9, 2018  after a brief illness.  He was born in Chicago on February 19, 1932 to Irvin and Julia (Niemisto) Welton, but moved to Washburn, Wisconsin after a few weeks.  Ronald lived on the Niemisto farm in the rural Washburn Finn Settlement before he and his parents moved into a home in the town of Washburn where he attended Washburn schools and graduated with the Class of 1950.  Upon joining the US Navy, he served in Occupied Japan prior to his service on the USS Oriskany where he participated in Mediterranean and Pacific cruises before entering the Korean War theatre where he was engaged in several naval battles.  He returned home in 1954 and moved to White Pine, Michigan.

Ronald married Mary Louise "Mary Lou" Treba at Holy Family Catholic Church on August 27, 1955.  They had five children.  In 1967, the family moved from White Pine to Chicago where he worked for the Proctor and Gamble Company as a stationary engineer.  In the 1970s, he re-enlisted in the Navy and served in the Naval Reserves.  He has the distinction of serving in three major war eras: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

While in Chicago, Ronald attended college for many years.  He received an associate degree from Wright College, as well as a bachelors and masters from Northeastern Illinois University.  He enjoyed traveling with his family and went on an annual cruise each fall.  He played several musical instruments and was especially fond of his guitars.  As an avid reader, he collected thousands of books; he attended the theatre frequently.  After his retirement, he was dedicated to his grandchildren and their daily care.

Ronald is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou.  Also surviving are children Peter Welton, of Midland, Michigan; Michael (and Sharon) Welton of Lena, Illinois; Julie Welton of Chicago, and Laura (and Jose) Macias of Des Plaines, Illinois. He is survived by grandchildren Evelyn (and Ryan) Ranney of Chicago; Caroline (and Ronald) Oxley of Freeport, Illinois; as well as Carly and Ronald "Ronnie" Macias of Des Plaines.  Also surviving are his brother Richard (and Annette) Welton of Auburndale, Wisconsin; sister-in-law Karen Welton of Port Washington, Wisconsin; and brother Roger Welton of Fond du lac, Wisconsin; as well as several brothers- and sisters-in law, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, James Ronald, as well as a brother, Robert.

A memorial gathering will be held Friday, December 14, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at Noon at G.L. Hills Funeral Home at 745 Graceland Avenue in Des Plaines. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or the Alzheimer's Association, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois 60631.   Interment will take place at the Woodland-Calvary Cemetery in Washburn, Wisconsin at a later date.