Ronald "Ron" Shimek

Ronald “Ron” F. Shimek, age 79, of Willmar, died Saturday morning, Oct. 12, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Interment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery near Raymond.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct 18, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to Rice Hospice are preferred.  (www.petersonbrothers.com)

Ronald “Ron” Frank Shimek was born on July 7, 1940, in Clara City, Minnesota, the son of Frank and Margaret (Emard) Shimek.  He grew up on the family farm near Raymond, received his education from the Raymond schools and in 1959, began employment with Duininck Brothers Construction.  On April 15, 1961, at St. Clara’s Catholic Church in Clara City, Ronald was united in marriage to Mary Ann Lieser and to this union they were blessed with three children, Cheryl, Joseph and James.  They made their home in the Raymond community.  In 1964, Ron and Mary moved to Eagle Lake (just north of Willmar) and purchased 71 Bait & Sports of which they owned and operated for over 35 years.  After 47 years of employment with Duininck Brothers in the construction business, Ron retired in 2006.

Ron was an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed hunting and fishing (especially ice fishing) in his spare time.  In his younger years, he enjoyed trapping and dancing with Mary.  Ron, along with Jerome Jakobson, Harold Anderson and Bill Taunton, were the pioneers of designing the aerators that were placed in several Kandiyohi County lakes.  Ron was a member of the Church of St. Mary and the Minnesota Sportsman Club.  He was also very active in numerous conservation groups and their local projects.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary of Willmar; two sons, Joe (and Kelly) Shimek of Willmar and Jim (and Julie) Shimek of New London; five grandchildren, Andrea Shimek of Spicer, Amanda (and Eric) Cantwell of Bismarck, ND., Ryan (and Katie) Frahm of Duluth, Andrew (and Courtney) Shimek of Clara City and Michael Shimek of New London; five great grandchildren, Mason, Reagan and Peyton Cantwell and Thaddeus and Oliver Frahm; one brother, David (and Char) Shimek of New London; and his beloved canine companion, Pennie, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Cheryl; and one brother, Robert “Bobby”.