Ronald Froehlich

Ronald Harry Froehlich, 89, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025, in Troy Michigan. Born in 1936 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Ronald was one of four sons of Elsie and Reinhold Froehlich and is survived by his son Michael (Karin), daughter Ursula, granddaughter Charlotte Shafter (Otto), grandson Lenny and great-grandson George Thomas Shafter. Ron grew up alongside his brothers Ted, Dave, and Karl. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Karl, and wife Irene (Mattutat).

From an early age, Ronald was captivated by music, books, and the elegance of mathematics. These passions shaped a lifelong pursuit that intertwined the arts with precision and scholarship, ultimately leading him into a distinguished career in library science and translation.

In the early 1960s, Ronald traveled abroad to Heidelberg, Germany, to study music and the humanities. There, he met his first wife Margot Kohler. Together they built a life in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Ronald earned his master's degree in library science and became a skilled technical translator between English and German. They welcomed two children into their lives: Michael in 1964 and Ursula in 1966.

Ronald's professional career reflected both his technical expertise and cultural fluency. He began as a translator for the US tank program, working on German armament and engineering documents that contributed to the development of the U.S. Abrams Tank Program. He later joined General Motors in Warren, Michigan, before being recruited by Volkswagen of America in the mid-1970s. There, he played a formative role in introducing and establishing the Volkswagen brand in the United States, working on the launch of iconic models including the Rabbit, Dasher, and early Volkswagen vans. He remained with VW until his retirement, leaving a lasting imprint on the automotive world.

Outside of work, Ronald enjoyed a variety of things that brought him peace and pleasure; his love of cooking, photography, classical music and literature to name a few. Opera, in particular, remained his lifelong passion. In retirement he shared his deep knowledge by teaching opera appreciation classes at his retirement community. He and partners traveled widely, always weaving together their love for culture, food, history, and art.

Ronald will be remembered for his brilliant mind, his devotion to music and learning, and his generous spirit. His legacy lives on in his children, Michael and Ursula, his extended family, and all those whose lives he enriched with his knowledge, humor, and warmth.

Ron's final hours with us reflected his other great passion, good food. When hospice explained that he would receive comfort care via medication in place of food, he asked his children to "Shop around for a hospice service that includes catering".

His grandson Lenny, always a gentleman, picked up on this cue and promptly delivered a properly prepared filet steak meal. They shared what became Ron's last supper, which allowed for him to classically bow out, on his own terms, like the final act of a Wagnerian Opera.

A private service will be held by the family, with a Celebration of Life gathering for friends and loved ones in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ronald's memory to organizations that support music, education and literacy.