Ronald Bieber Sr.

PEORIA – Ronald F. Bieber Sr. of Morton, IL, and formerly of Peoria, IL, passed away peacefully January 11, 2026.

Ron was born in Peoria, January 13, 1942, to Frederick "Fritz" and Lucille (Martzluf) Bieber.

He graduated from Woodruff High School. Ron earned his amateur radio license K9UJN while in high school.

In 1963, just two weeks after JFK's assassination, he voluntarily enlisted in the Navy. He proudly served in the Navy, serving at Subic Bay, Philippines, until his honorable discharge in 1969.

A mutual friend, Jim Beedle, introduced Ron to Carole Marcille at a dance Jim was DJing at St Peter's in Peoria 1963. He married Carole on May 15, 1965, and together they enjoyed a life of love, travel, and adventure for more than 60 years.

Ron loved to capture memories. Ron's phone contained more than 15,000 photos and videos, both new and old, of memorable moments he shared with Carole, his friends, and family. Over 1,000 of these were from his bucket list trips to Hawaii and the Pearl Harbor Memorial in 2020, and from his Greater Peoria Honor Flight on June 12, 2024.

He was kind, generous, and an active member of many organizations. He gave frequent charitable contributions and volunteered his time to many organizations throughout his life. Some of these include Peoria Shriners Hospital Fire Patrol, First English Lutheran Church, Peoria County Genealogical Society, Bell Telephone Company Retirees, Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club - ARRL.

He loved to tell stories about family history, his Navy and Bell Telephone Company experiences, and his childhood on Stanley Street in South Peoria.

Ron is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carole; daughter and son-in-law, Deanne and Jansen Wiley; granddaughters, Elizabeth (Rob) Morgan; grandson, Steven Wiley; and five great-grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with his local great-grandson, Shane.

Also surviving are his close friend Charles "Chuck" Tieber, and many life-long friends, cousins, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; son, Ronald F. Bieber Jr.; brother, Stanley Bieber; grandson, Lane Wiley; and great-grandson, Joseph Morgan.

He made the world a better place and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Salvation Army, or Greater Peoria Honor Flight.

Please consider sharing a memory, photo, or condolence with Ron's family on his Tribute Wall at https://www.knappjohnson.com/obituaries/Ronald-Bieber-Sr?obId=46904554.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family visit www.knappjohnson.com.