Ronald Charles Herring of Winchester, Kansas, a retired Jefferson County heavy equipment operator and National Guard member, died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 5th, 2021 at the age of 74.

Ron is survived by his wife, Lorraine of 47 years; his children, Carl (Jennifer) of Mayetta, Jason of Winchester, Nick (Kim) of Meriden, Robert (Tammy) of Liberty, MO, and Judee Cordell (Damian) of Winchester; as well as 12 ¼ grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by 3 siblings, Linda (Shaver), Merle, and Glen. He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Annie (Metzger) and his brothers, Ralph, Lee and Roger.

Ron was born in Rock Creek, Kansas on December 31, 1946. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1964 and continued work on the family farm. Ron was drafted into the United States Army in November 1966, where he served 2 years overseas in Germany. He later continued his service in 1981 by joining the Kansas Army National Guard where he served 32 years, including a deployment to Iraq in 2004.

He met the love of his love, Lorraine Sieve, while partaking in the other love of his life: ice cream. Ron and Lorraine married on November 24th, 1973 and went on to have 5 children.

Ron continued the family farming tradition throughout his life. After returning from his service in Germany, he worked at Valley Implement before starting his own farm in Valley Falls in the 1970s. He never lost that love of the land, and continued plowing and tilling for local communities throughout Northeast Kansas through the spring of 2021. Ron transitioned from full-time farming to a life of service in the 1980s when he began as a facility services engineer at the Jefferson County North school district. He then went to work for Jefferson County running a road grader, a position he retired from in 2012. Throughout these years he served in a host of civil service roles, including as a Volunteer Firefighter, City Council Member, and Mayor. He was also a life member of VFW Post 3084, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion.

On any given weekend, you could find “Pops”, Lorraine and their dogs participating in parades, car shows, and threshing bees with his 1929 Model A Ford Pickup (“It’s not a car!”) or any number of other vehicles or John Deere tractors he restored throughout his life. He was a devoted catholic who never met a stranger and would do anything he could to help someone in need. His warmth, kindness, and playfulness will be deeply missed, but carry on in his greatest legacy: his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Pops extended his warmth throughout the Midwest as a mainstay of the annual Mount Pleasant, Iowa Old Threshers Reunion and member of their truck club. He was also a member of the Flint Hills Model A Club, and frequent participant in Meriden Antique Engine and Threshers Association and McLouth Threshing Bee events.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2021 at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church in Valley Falls. Rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at the church with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. Burial with Military Honors conducted by Graham-Herbers Post 3084 will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorials can be made in his name to Grahem Herbers V.F.W. Post 3084 in Valley Falls, Winchester American Legion or Old Threshers Reunion (in Mt. Pleasant, IA) c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Valley Falls, Kansas 66088. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.