Ronald Suess

Suess, Ronald
Ron was born March 27, 1946 in Fremont, Nebraska. He died January 25, 2015 after a long battle with cancerous brain tumors in Cave Creek, Arizona. He grew up on farms in Nebraska south of Arlington, Yutan, and Orum. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1964. He attended Midland College and Wayne State College before joining the Army in 1969. He was a Warrant Officer and served his time in Viet Nam as a helicopter pilot. Returning to civilian life, he studied at Emory Aviation in Greeley, Colorado and earned fixed-wing and helicopter commercial licenses. February 1972 he and Sharon Hayne were married and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Ron worked in management at Thrifty Drug Stores, then sold commercial real estate, then spent 11 ½ years at Smitty's in retail management. In 1987 he moved to Flagstaff, Arizona where he bought into a truck stop. Over the next several years, more restaurants and a bar were added. A chance meeting with another Viet Nam helicopter pilot from Nebraska led to flying helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon for 14 years for Air Star/Maverick Helicopters. He enjoyed flying again so much and also flew several charter trips. He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Suess. Survivors are Sharon, his wife, Madeline (mother) of Fremont, Nebraska, his sister Mary Ann (Ted) Sonderegger of Lincoln, Nebraska, his sons Ryan (Keely) of Cave Creek, Arizona, and Justin (Emily) of Tucson, Arizona, and granddaughters Emma, Ellie, and Lillian. An urnside service will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, Monday, February 9 at 10AM. Memorial contributions may be made to Ron's family. Donations will go to further research Glioblastoma brain tumors in Ron's name. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com to place online condolences.