Ronald Lee "Ron" Gottschalk

Ronald Lee "Ron" Gottschalk, age 80, of Hastings, passed away on March 6, 2024 at Bailey Center for Caring in St. Augustine with his family by his side. Ron was born on April 3, 1943 to parents Louis and Marjorie (Peavey) Gottschalk in Bad Axe, Michigan. He grew up in Bad Axe on his family's dairy farm where he learned many skills that he would use in later life. Ron moved to California in his early teens and moved to St. Augustine in his late teens. In his early life he was involved in Boy Scouts advancing to the rank of Eagle Scout. In St. Augustine he worked as a chef at the Ponce Motor Lodge where he met the love of his life, Harriett Taylor. Harriett strongly "suggested" that Ron should join the military to grow up a bit. Ron joined the USMC and went through boot camp at Paris Island, SC. The marine corps is just what Ron needed and upon returning home from boot camp he and Harriet married. Ron served in Okinawa, Japan and San Diego, California as a radar technician and advanced to the rank to Sergeant. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, they moved back to St Augustine where Ron enjoyed a 30 year long career as a radar technician for Naval Air Station Jacksonville. He went on to a second career with St. Johns County Parks and Recreation. Ron was a talented fabricator who could fix anything that was broken. He had accumulated a lifetime of skills that made him a valuable asset wherever he went, and he was more than happy to help anyone with a repair or project. In his leisure time Ron was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. More than anything, Ron loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, and he will be deeply missed.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a great great grandson Colson Bailey. He is survived by daughters, Lorie Dubose and her husband Jim of St Augustine, Marsha Watson and her husband Archie of Hastings, Kimberly of Italy; grandchildren, Chuck Hersey, Troy (Sherry) Hersey, Brandon Bailey, Bryan (Alexis) Bailey, Kurt Kepher, Mikayla Batchelor, and Connor Bachelor; great grandchildren Shianne (Cody) Kling and TJ Hersey; and great great grandchildren, Wyatt Kling, Colson Bailey, and Addison Ihrig.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 2 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024 at St. Johns Family Funeral Home with Pastor Ben Damico officiating. Those unable to attend can view the service live streamed at https://iframe.dacast.com/live/2a7a09ae1c0559a83ef537e05e6a14a6/2aae7d5f-98fd-a9e6-32a7-b774547cf42c.
St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.