Ronald Edgar Colle

Ronald Edgar Colle, 77, of Danville, IL, died February 9, 2022 from lung cancer. He was born January 2, 1945 in Mineola, NY on Long Island to Edgar and Mildred (Swanteson) Colle. As a child, he enjoyed riding the Long Island Rail Road into New York City to hang out on Coney Island and watch shows at Radio City Music Hall. He attended Eastern Military Academy in Huntington, NY and graduated from Rome Free Academy in Rome, NY. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and became an Amphibious Tractor (AmTrac) operator with the 3dAmTracBn of the 1st Marine Division with duty stations in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Okinawa, Japan; Da Nang, Viet Nam; and Long Beach, CA. As a young man he loved to boat, water ski, snow ski, and car race - especially his blue 1967 Buick GS 400. He was an avid fisherman who enjoyed spending time on or near the water.

Ron was a master carpenter who loved to build things with his hands, constructing hundreds of residential homes across the Chicago suburbs, as well as multiple commercial properties in Colorado, including Rose Medical Center, the University of Denver’s Ritchie Center, and the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. However, his proudest creation was the two-story home he built for his former wife Darlene Walker and her husband Dennis in Oakwood, IL.

He was a Life member of VFW Post 1 in Denver, CO. Ron loved to watch racing from NASCAR to Indy Car, where his favorite driver was Jimmie Johnson. He enjoyed watching football and most Sundays could be seen cheering for the Broncos or the Packers. 

Ron was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister Dolores, brother Wayne (Mike), son James, and close friend Judy. He is survived by former spouses Darlene and Debbie, son Ian, daughter Sherris Berner, son Jason, niece Shannon Falkson, nephew Scott Michael, as well as grandchildren Tyler, Titus, Vance, Dagny, Taggart, and Lilliana.

Services will be held at Kruger Coan Pape Funeral Home, 10 E. Williams Street, Danville, IL 61832 at Noon on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 with visitation 30 minutes prior and burial immediately following at the Danville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donating to the VFW National Home for Children https://vfwnationalhome.org/donate/

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