Ronald George Jugenitz

Ronald George Jugenitz, a U.S. Navy submariner, born June 5, 1946 in Joliet, Illinois, to his mom and dad, George Mathew Jugenitz and Helen Louise Scagnelli Jugenitz, passed away at home in Kaysville, Utah, with his wife, his daughter, and son-in-law present, on Thursday evening August 29, 2025.

He became a child of God on July 21, 1946, being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost at Cathedral of St. Raymond Joliet, Illinois. Ron attended the Cathedral of St. Raymond School through eighth grade, where he was also an alter boy. He attended Joliet Township High School graduating in June 1964. When asked why he chose to go to public school rather than continue with St. Raymond he would tell you “I discovered girls between 8th and 9th grade”. He went to Joliet Junior College where he graduated with his associate degree as part of the class of 1967. He had every intention of returning to college in the fall, in fact, was already registered but had to work that summer to pay for tuition, and because he wasn’t “in college” he received his draft notice. He went to the draft office but they told him “you must be actively attending classes in order to stay out of the draft and you’re not right this minute attending school, you’ve run out of time sonny”, whereby he walked out of the Army Recruiting Office and visited other branches, eventually selecting the U. S. Navy, and signed on board for school, and with his exceptional brain he tested so high, they put him in Submarine School immediately after graduation for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he flew to New London, CT., where he boarded his submarine, the USS Nathan Hale, SSBN 623. Stationed out of Hawaii they went through the Panama Canal which, being a man of the sea, he loved, then took up his home base in Hawaii. They went underwater for 90 days at a time, surfacing finally in Guam, where they then patrolled the waters around Vietnam before returning to Hawaii. His sub was one of the first Silent Nuclear Subs and even our American ships searching for his sub, never located them. But his sub located several Russian subs and ships and while they never fired a shot, his “silent” sub was able to notify the U.S. surface ships of Russian activities in the area.

After six years in the Navy he decided to resign and stayed in Hawaii……as a young Navy Guy, great times were had. He attended the University of Hawaii where he took up the studies he’d dropped to join the Navy, and while there, his natural born talent for photography took over. He joined up with other photographers and up to about five years ago, he never looked back. His favorite was photographing the placing of lei’s around the necks of those of those getting off planes and cruise ships. He was good, very, very, good….another awesome side of Ron.

After returning stateside he ended up in Pueblo, Colorado, working for the government at the Transportation Test Center, their fast-track train testing facility, which was too early for its time. He met his wife Marlys via her brother while in Pueblo, and Ron and Marlys married in October 1979, as the government shut down that facility. Ron found a job in Utah with a contractor who oversaw running the Utah Test and Training Range our of Hill Air Force Base in the middle if Utah’s desert. He was an exceptional person who could think through most problems/situations the Air Force threw at them and therefore, quickly became a Project Manager for mostly cruise missiles, but also testing new weapons as the Air Force Required, where he fell just months short of 40 years with that contract, JT3, running Mission Control with the Air Force. He was very, very, very good at that job.

Meanwhile, Ron continued his photography dream and opened Creative Images by Ron and Marlys from their home in Utah where nights, weekends and holidays he was very successful at photographing weddings, portraits, etc. In addition for his love of photography was his love of flying. He’d dreamed as a kid of flying off in a plane and while in Hawaii studied for and received his instrument rated Commercial Pilots License. When he landed in Utah, he finally finished his studies at Weber State University where he received his bachelor’s degree AND, at the same time, studied for and received his CFI (Certified Flight Instructors) License. He immediately started teaching out of both Sky Park in Bountiful and the Ogden Airport. He ran both Creative Images and Ron’s Flight School from his home up until the 2020 Pandemic, which changed the world for everyone.

Shortly after retiring in June 2018 at the age of 72, he joined the American Legion Post 27, Farmington, Utah, where within a year or two he was voted Commander. The American Legion quickly became his family, his home, and he took on many tasks including, the Flag Retiring Ceremony each year whereby the American Legion hosts a huge ceremony while burning hundreds of old, ragged, torn flags they collected, in a burn pit in Layton as the Fire Station supervises the burn. He was also the official photographer for the Utah Boys State classes each spring at Weber State University for young men entering their las year of high school, to learn civics….how our government is operated. He’s part of the Rifle Team saluting and honoring active military and veterans, with Military Honors Funerals to make sure they are properly thanked for what they gave for their country.

In November of 2019, after suffering and surviving seven strokes with lots of therapy, and still partially paralyzed, was put on the “Utah Honor Flight” schedule and was able to go to Washington D.C. with about 50 other Veterans also chosen for that flight. These flights we on-going throughout several years and were sponsored by Nate Wade Subaru in Salt Lake City, at no charge to the veteran and a traveling mate who cared for the Veteran.

Ron was also a 1st Lieutenant in the Utah Chapter of the Civil Air Patrol and has many hours both in the air and on the ground doing search and rescue. He’s as proud to wear the Air Force Uniform, as his Navy Uniform, as well as his American Legion Uniform.

While in high school Ron was in ROTC for four years earning many medals, accolades and Officer’s Sword.

All in all, Ron has given three fourths of his life in service to his country.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marlys Blandin Jugenitz, his sister, Diane Terese Jugenitz Lark and brother-in-law Wayne Lark, his daughter Lainie Cook Sims and son-in-law Scott Sims, four grandchildren; Nicole, Ryan, Jared and Eric, and two delicious great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Caleb, as well as several cousins located throughout the U.S.

His presence , his cheerfulness and willingness to help, no matter what, will be missed something fierce by his wife, family, neighbors, Legion, his colleagues and his friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Family and friends may visit Friday 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment will be held at the Kaysville City Cemetery where Military Honors will be performed by his American Legion Post 27 of Farmington, Utah.

Services will be live-streamed by going to www.lindquistmortuary.com and scrolling to the bottom of Ronald's obituary page.