Ronald Bill Jordan, 84, of Mesa, AZ, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on January 31, 2015, in Mesa AZ. He was born October 24, 1930 in Evanston, IL to John C. and Margaret (Bill) Jordan. He graduated from Wheaton High School in 1949 and graduated Worsham College in Chicago in 1951 in Mortuary Science. Ron was a Navy Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving two years from 1952-1954. Following the Navy, he was a Chemical Sales Representative for Merck, and then moved to Duluth, MN in 1957, where he was a Sales Representative for Mead Johnson Co. He married the love of his life and best friend, Elizabeth “Liz” Steadman on August 1, 1964, and they raised three children together in Duluth, and later Knife River MN. He owned several companies in Duluth, including the Overhead Door Company and Hanson’s Ace Hardware in the West End. Ron was a leader in the community, most notably serving as the President and Chairman of the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Duluth. His passion was sailing; Ron and his family sailed throughout the Apostle Islands and Great Lakes for many years. His final ‘cruise’ was a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration to Alaska in September, 2014, with his wife and family. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Lila Mae Lindahl, his son Jeffery and a brother John. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Barbara Kalligher of Epping, New Hampshire and Catherine Kemmerling (Obong) of Queen Creek, AZ; five grandchildren Jennifer Paine, John Kalligher, Justin Kalligher, Eric Jordan, and Rebecca Harnack; and four great-grandchildren, Ryleigh Paine, Carter Paine, Evelyn Kalligher and new baby Kalligher.
A celebration of his life will be conducted at the Mountain View Funeral Home, 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ, 85207, on Saturday, February 14th at 2:00 pm. Interment at Acacia Cemetery in St. Paul MN will be conducted at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Duluth (The Overman Scholarship Fund), 2623 W. Third Street, Duluth, MN 55806.