Ronald M. Unland

1953 - 2023

Ronald M. Unland
Born: November 3, 1953
Died: May 19, 2023
Ronald M. Unland, 69, of Channahon, passed away peacefully with his family surrounding him on May 19, 2023.
Born Nov. 3, 1953, Ronald was the son of the late Harold and Ardell (Torkelsen) Unland. He was preceded in death by his sisters Phyllis Unland, Mildred Gang, and Lorene Ramsey, and his brothers Donald Unland and Harold Unland.
Ronald is survived by his brother Gerald Unland, his children Jeffery Unland (Vickey), Christopher Unland, and Becky (Ron) King; his step-children Christopher Baran, Sarah (Sean) Stegall, Joshua Baran, Timothy Baran, Rebekah Baran, Daniel Baran; his grandchildren Jeffery Unland Jr., Colton Unland, Christopher Unland Jr., step-granddaughter Kayla King, grandchildren Caden Unland and Addalynn King; step-grandchildren Lucas Stegall, Ronald Baran, Caleb Baran, Micah Blades, Zachariah Baran, Martha Baran, Ezekiel Baran, Jessica Baran, Riley Baran, and Rahmiel Muflahi-Baran; and ex-wives Laura Lasocki and Denise M. Baran-Unland.
Ronald attended Channahon School District 17 and two years of Minooka Community High School, returning to school in his early 30s to earn his GED. He previously worked for New Lenox Paving and Channahon School District 17.
For many years, Ronald also worked with his family in the middle of the night to deliver more than 1,000 newspapers a day and was recognized by The Herald-News in Joliet for excellence in delivery service.
Ronald had a passion for music and performed as a vocalist and bass guitarist for Southern Comfort, Electric Lunatics and Night Blind. He especially loved music from the 1960s and 1970s.
He also enjoyed watching his grandson Jeffery Unland Jr. race motor cross at JMX Speedway in Channahon and took pride in serving as Jeffery's personal pit chief.
Ronald was a devoted member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homewood, where he was a board member, Sunday School teacher, and co-founder and co-leader of the church's Higher Ark youth group. Ronald also helped coordinate three holiday banquets a year and a monthly potluck lunch at St. Nicholas.
Mostly, Ronald loved nothing more than spending time with family and telling or hearing good stories and sharing memories. If one of his children needed to talk, he would cease all activity, announce, "Smoke break," light a cigarette, and give his undivided attention. Family was most important to Ronald, and family is the legacy he left to his loved ones to cherish.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. June 24 at I&M Canal, Jessup Steet, Channahon in the pavilion. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet.