Ronald (Reinhold) Brunkhardt died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins on Sept. 1, 2012, at the age of 94. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, with family receiving friends from 5 until 7 p.m., at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 732 Clark St., Sterling. Graveside service will follow the ceremony at Riverside Cemetery.

He was born on Feb. 23, 1918 in Atwood, to George Jacob and Molly Fritzler Brunkhardt. His parents were Germans from Russia who migrated to the United States from Russia as young adults.

Ron attended grade schools in Atwood and Merino. When he started school, he could speak only German as that was what was spoken in his home. His formal education ended when he was expected to help on the farm at an early age.

Ron enjoyed trapping muskrats, skunks and badgers in the Pruitt Reservoir when he was young. He sold them to make a little spending money. As he grew older he took on more responsibility on the farm and could often be found working beets or planting corn. Ron liked to dance and many Saturday nights would drive to Sterling or Illiff to attend a polka dance. He also liked to fish and to swim.

On Aug. 20, 1939, Ron married Helen Dermer in the Trinity Lutheran Church of which he was a member. To this union three children were born: Duane Eugene Brunkhardt, Joyce Elizabeth Brunkhardt and Cynthia Lou Brunkhardt.

Ron and his family continued living and farming in the Atwood and Merino area, where they fed cattle and raised sugar beets and other crops. He loved the cattle business and the markets and was a familiar presence at the Brush Sale Barn where he usually camped out all day long waiting for the best "deal." Sometimes he got a bargain! He was also active for many years in the Chimney Canyon Grazing Association.

Ron's beloved wife, Helen, became ill and died on August 20, 1968.

In 1998 Ron met Elaine Miller in Fort Collins and they were married on April 16, 1999, in Bangor, Maine. They continued to live in Fort Collins until 2010 when Ron moved to Devonshire Acres in Sterling.

During the 1970s Ron went on several cruises and learned to enjoy the ocean. In later years he spent time in Maine with his wife and enjoyed visits to Prince Edward Island where he caught all the fish his heart could desire.

Ron is survived by his wife, Elaine Brunkhardt of Fort Collins; daughters, Joyce Lebsack and husband Don of Sterling, Cindy Kipp and husband Brian of Haxtun; daughter-in-law,Karen Brunkhardt of Sterling; sister, Clara Werner of Sterling; brother, Alvin Brunkhardt of Paola, Kan.; stepchildren, Alan Clark, David Clark, Cathy Kechter; seven grandchildren, Monte Brunkhardt, Mindy Meier, Mark Brunkhardt, Kent Lebsack, Jan Mari, Lindsay Kipp, Whitney Kipp; nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Ron was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Brunkhardt; his granddaughter, Julie Carlson; and his son, Duane Brunkhardt; and sisters, Erma Schuppe, Eleanor Swearingen and Bernice Young.

Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sterling.