IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Ronald Dean
Essenpries
July 11, 1935 – November 11, 2017
Obituary
Ronald Dean (RD) Essenpries, 82, died Saturday, November 11, 2017. A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 2017 at Frontier Village Center in Adrian, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to South Prairie Railroad, P.O. Box 557, Adrian, MO 64720.
RD was born July 11, 1935 in Rich Hill, MO, the youngest of two children to Orville Clayton and Thelma Hyacinth (Beshore) Essenpries. RD was raised and educated in Rich Hill, MO. On February 28, 1954 he was married to Jadonna Lee Conrad in Butler, MO. They lived in Butler for a few years before they bought a house in Adrian in 1957 where they have resided since. To this union seven children were born.
He began his working career driving a grain truck and then to Kahn's Chevrolet as a mechanic. He worked at the Passaic Grain Elevator, and then back to being a mechanic at Hill's Truck Line in Adrian. He started a wheel horse business on the side with Don Arndt. He was then a truck driver for the Leonard Brothers until his retirement in 1991. After his retirement, he then started a small engine company.
RD was always a very involved member of the community. He served as the Fire Chief in the Adrian Fire Department and helped with the Adrian Police Department. He helped with Adrian's Chapter of the Girl Scouts. He was an active member of the Adrian Optimist Club and a devoted member of the Adrian Christian Church. In 1999, RD helped start the South Prairie Railroad which is still active today. He was a charter member of the WMATA. There was nothing RD enjoyed more than fixing things. There was no problem he could not fix, even if his solutions were a bit unorthodox. He never left the house without his pliers.
RD was preceded in death by his parents, stepmom, and sister. He is survived by his wife, Jadonna Essenpries, and all seven of their children; Sheila Wackerman (James), Sherry Widner (Jim), Doug Essenpries (Rose), Dick Essenpries (Shari), Teresa Dyer (Roger), Tracy Chamberlain (Jason), Ronielle Bettels (Brandon); 22 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.
RD was born July 11, 1935 in Rich Hill, MO, the youngest of two children to Orville Clayton and Thelma Hyacinth (Beshore) Essenpries. RD was raised and educated in Rich Hill, MO. On February 28, 1954 he was married to Jadonna Lee Conrad in Butler, MO. They lived in Butler for a few years before they bought a house in Adrian in 1957 where they have resided since. To this union seven children were born.
He began his working career driving a grain truck and then to Kahn's Chevrolet as a mechanic. He worked at the Passaic Grain Elevator, and then back to being a mechanic at Hill's Truck Line in Adrian. He started a wheel horse business on the side with Don Arndt. He was then a truck driver for the Leonard Brothers until his retirement in 1991. After his retirement, he then started a small engine company.
RD was always a very involved member of the community. He served as the Fire Chief in the Adrian Fire Department and helped with the Adrian Police Department. He helped with Adrian's Chapter of the Girl Scouts. He was an active member of the Adrian Optimist Club and a devoted member of the Adrian Christian Church. In 1999, RD helped start the South Prairie Railroad which is still active today. He was a charter member of the WMATA. There was nothing RD enjoyed more than fixing things. There was no problem he could not fix, even if his solutions were a bit unorthodox. He never left the house without his pliers.
RD was preceded in death by his parents, stepmom, and sister. He is survived by his wife, Jadonna Essenpries, and all seven of their children; Sheila Wackerman (James), Sherry Widner (Jim), Doug Essenpries (Rose), Dick Essenpries (Shari), Teresa Dyer (Roger), Tracy Chamberlain (Jason), Ronielle Bettels (Brandon); 22 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.
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