Reinhard G. "Ron" Zethner

ZETHNER, Reinhard G. "Ron" Reinhard G. "Ron" Zethner, 67, of Ellington, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, Monday, (March 28, 2005) at Johnson Memorial Hospital, in Stafford Springs, after a long illness. He was born in Schwurbitz, Germany, March 10, 1938, the son of the late Ludwig and Kunigunda (Vogler) Zethner. He emigrated to America in 1959, and married his loving wife of 45 years, Margaret (Vogel) Zethner. In 1969, Ron started his own business, Ron Zethner, Mason Contractor, which he ran until his retirement in 2004. He was a skilled craftsman whose talents were known throughout the area. Later, he was joined in business by his son and grandson, Joe and Joey, who carry on in his absence. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Henry and Karen Zethner of Ellington, Joseph and Leona Zethner of Ellington; and a daughter, Erika Phillips and her fiance Steve Wakefield of Colchester. He also leaves his loving grandchildren, Genesis Ingersoll, Braden Zethner, Natasha Zethner, Joseph Zethner, Justin Bisson, and Michael Zethner, all of Ellington, and James Phillips and his fiancee Mandy Tiedeman, Bonnie Phillips, and Daniel Fitzgerald, all of Colchester. He also leaves his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Gertrude Zethner of Germany; two sisters-in-law, Bernice Vogel and Shirley Vogel, both of Ellington; and many nieces and nephews, both here and in Germany. He was predeceased by his brothers, Heinrich, Helmut, and Gunther Zethner and his sister and brother-in-law, Erika and George Grasser, all of Germany. Friends may gather on Saturday, April 2, at St. Luke's Church, Ellington, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Ellington Center Cemetery. Friends may call at the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect St., Rockville on Friday, from 6-9 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Ellington Ambulance Corp, P.O. Box 71, Ellington, CT 06029 or to American Diabetes Assoc., P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150-1160.