Dr. Ronald Gene Thouvenot

Dr. Ronald Thouvenot

Dr. Ronald Gene Thouvenot, D.D.S, 70, of O'Fallon, Ill., born May 2, 1941, in Belleville, Ill., died Thursday, June 30, 2011.

Dr. Thouvenot was a graduate of O'Fallon schools and a member of the OTHS class of 1959. He attended Belleville Junior College, graduating in 1961, he obtained his dental degree from St. Louis University graduating in 1965.

Dr. Thouvenot was a general dentist who served five years in the United States Air Force as a Captain. He liked his time in the Air Force, but felt the desire to come home to his roots. He started his practice in Belleville, Ill., and spent the next 36 years working there before retiring in December 2006. He loved his occupation and he loved his patients as family. For the first 15 years of his career he spent every Thursday morning visiting two nursing homes in Belleville and O'Fallon, Ill., to check patients because he had a great respect for the elderly. He always had a quick wit and a story or a joke for everyone.

He was a member of the St. Clair District Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society, and the American Dental Association, O'Fallon Masonic Lodge 576 A.F. & A.M., O'Fallon Order of the Eastern Star No. 487, Scottish Rite Bodies of Southern Illinois, Ainad Shriners of East St. Louis, St. Clair County Farm Bureau, member of the Board of Education of the O'Fallon Township High School since 1978, past member of Central School District 104 Board of Education from 1972 through 1985.

Ron was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey C. Thouvenot; father, Floyd C. Thouvenot; mother, Elizabeth A., nee Bittles, Krohn; step-mother, Emily M. Thouvenot; step-father, Harvey C. Krohn; nephews, John Tiemann and Chad Krohn.

Surviving are his wife, Jean Kay, nee Jackson, Thouvenot, whom he married June 27 1964, two sons, Sean M (Siobhan K.) Thouvenot of Republic, Mo., and Brian D. (Carrie A.) Thouvenot of Fairview Heights, Ill.; daughter-in-law, Michelle D. Thouvenot of O'Fallon, Ill.; five grandchildren, Zachary C. Thouvenot of O'Fallon, Ill., Cassy L. (John) Michael of Lakenheath AFB, England, Joseph M. Thouvenot of Republic, Mo., Tanner R. Thouvenot of Republic, Mo., and Milana L. Thouvenot of Fairview Heights, Ill.; two brothers, James (JoNell) Krohn of O'Fallon, Ill., and Timothy (Tina) Krohn of O'Fallon, Ill.; and sister, Cynthia Krohn of Belleville, Ill.

Dr. Thouvenot was passionate about education in O'Fallon, Ill., having served Central School as volunteer with the P.T.A., Cub Scouts and school board member from 1972 to 2005. He was recently re-elected to the O'Fallon Township High School Board of Education and was looking forward to continuing his work maintaining and advancing the quality of education at OTHS. In 2002, he received the Those Who Excel Award from the Illinois State Board of Education for all of the many hours he served as a local school board member.

Ron loved his family. He was proud of living in the home built by his great-grandfather and sharing stories of the family with just about everyone he met. He was an avid gardener, an accomplished cook (soup was his specialty) and since retirement actually looked forward to mowing his yard regularly. He was strong, but also very sensitive.

Memorials in honor of Dr. Ronald G. Thouvenot may be made to the O'Fallon Township High School Endowment Fund, Family Hospice of Belleville, Ill., Shriners Hospital, or the Belleville Area Humane Society. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.schildknechtfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Schildknecht Funeral Home in O'Fallon, Ill.



Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the funeral home with Sean Thouvenot and Russell Scott officiating. Following the services Dr. Thouvenot will be cremated and burial of his cremains will take place at O'Fallon City Cemetery, O'Fallon, Ill.



SCHILDKNECHT FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, O'Fallon, Ill.