Ronald D. "Ron" Mckelvey

Ronald Deane McKelvey died on September 1, 2021, resting peacefully with family by his side at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center. He was 77 years old and had fought more than 20 years with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on June 24th, 1944, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the son of Hugh and Shirlee McKelvey. Ron graduated from Lakeview High School in 1962, attended Western Michigan University and went on to earn his PhD in organic chemistry in 1970 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He also completed two years of post-doctorate work at the University of California, Berkley. After working for 6 years at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, he taught for 28 years at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse (UWL).

During the time Ron taught at UWL, he made many valuable contributions in the area of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). He was an expert in the field. Ron was responsible for obtaining a large federal grant that funded the acquisition of UWL’s first NMR instrument, for teaching many students and faculty to use the instrument in conducting high-level research in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry, and for maintaining the instrument. The NMR room at UWL is dedicated to his memory. His work with the NMR instrument led to a number of productive international collaborations that brought other scientists from around the world to La Crosse and allowed Ron to travel broadly and teach. He spent extended time in Japan conducting research and in India on a Fulbright Scholarship teaching at Pune University.

Ron had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge which, of course, included his own discipline of chemistry but then overflowed into numerous other fields from travel, nature, music, books, maps, cooking, wine tasting, woodworking, world cultures and art. He was an incredible schemer and found ways to test his physical and intellectual limits. When he became interested in flying, he even built an airplane. After taking a wine cruise in the Mediterranean he decided to study more about the chemistry of wine and taught wine tasting.

Ron was also an avid biker, biking 300 miles across Wisconsin and completing 5 century rides. He climbed Mount Fuji twice, did a trekking trip in Nepal, hiked in Ireland and the mountains in Crete and camped and hiked in many areas of the U.S. and Canada. In addition, he participated in a mission project in the Dominican Republic with his daughter, Claire. Ron even began piano lessons years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He might have gone skydiving years ago to help raise money for Parkinson’s had his wife, Chris, not objected! Ron was also a master woodworker and, once retired, started a small business to make props for Iyengar yoga enthusiasts, including for his wife, Chris.

Ron will be remembered for his positive attitude, his great sense of humor and his generosity, respect of and kindness toward others. He could relate to people from all walks of life and only ever had good things to say about others. He loved conversation with friends and family, loved teaching his many specialties to anyone interested, and loved meeting new people and experiencing new things.

Ron was a devoted father and is fondly remembered by his two daughters whom he often cared for when his wife was traveling for her work. He shared his passion for building things with them, having Kerry and Claire help with parts of his airplane or woodworking projects. His daughters credit him for their handiness in their own projects now as adults. Ron was also a very loving and devoted husband and always supported his wife, Chris, while she pursued her own passions. They had a true partnership of more than 38 years.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Shirlee and Hugh, and a niece, Alanna. He is survived by his dedicated wife, Chris Saudek, son, Ross, two daughters, Claire Murphy (Andre) and Kerry Trnka (Ben), 4 grandchildren (Beverly and Thaddeus Murphy, Piper and James Trnka), and two brothers (Richard of Poinciana, Florida and Michael of Ann Arbor, Michigan). He also leaves many wonderful and devoted friends.

A service for Ron will be held at English Lutheran Church on October 9th at 11:00 am. Visitation will be at 10:00 am and a lunch will be served following. Those planning to stay for lunch are requested to write to Chris Saudek at [email protected] . He requested that donations in his memory be sent to Bethany St. Joseph Care Center (BSJCC), The International Crane Foundation, English Lutheran Church, or any charity of choice. The family is especially appreciative of the excellent, caring staff at BSJ. Online condolences can be made at www.schumacher-kish.com .