Ronald W. Poling, 75, of Morrison, IL, died Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, WI.
Ron was born July 2, 1940, in Quincy, IL, to Everett Franklin and Leta Helen (Freeman) Poling. He graduated from Brown County High School in Mt. Sterling, IL, in 1958. He graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, in 1962 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married Bonnie Jo Hulslander on January 27, 1962. She died August 29, 1974. He then married Nancy Digby Huizenga in August of 1975. He later married Beth Drury Sterenberg on August 1, 1998. After college graduation, he took a job at the Ford Motor Company in Chicago, IL. He moved his family to Morrison in 1963 and worked at General Electric until his retirement in 1999. He held several patents for General Electric. He enjoyed riding and working on motorcycles. He was a charter member of the Brushpoppers Motorcycle Club and also co-owned with Ward Manchester III, a cycle shop on Main Street in Morrison, called Mainline Cycle in 1967 and 1968. He was a loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Survivors include his wife, Beth; daughter, Kim (Greg) Cole of Tampico, IL; son, Curt (Maryann) Poling of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; son David (Jennifer) Poling of Peoria, IL; stepdaughters, Becki (David) Damhoff and Melissa DeVorah, both of Morrison; stepson, Mark (Cala) Sterenberg of Sterling, IL; stepdaughter, Laura Allen of Clinton Township, MI, and stepson, Rich (Michelle) Huizenga of Morrison; six grandchildren, Rebecca (Greg) Pappenfuss, Matthew (Megan McCullough) Cole, Alex Cole, Jared Cole, Brooke Poling, and Benjamin Poling; 11 step-grandchildren, Jordan Haumschild, Bailey Haumschild, Brennen Haumschild, Zachary (Laini) Houzenga, Abram Houzenga, Morgan DeVorah, Joshua Paxton, Shane Sterenberg, Austin Allen, Shane Allen, and Addie Huizenga; three great-grandchildren, MaKenzie Pappenfuss, Benjamin Cole, and Cooper Houzenga.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bonnie; his father and mother; brother, Ted.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Cross Creek Golf Course, 15523 Henry Road, Morrison, IL.
MEMORIAL: American Cancer Society