Ronald D. Smith

Ronald D. Smith, 76, of Moline, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at home.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 23, at First Congregational Church, Moline, with The Rev. Duane Lahti officiating. Burial will take place at Rock Island National Cemetery at a later date. Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans or any other veterans’ organization.

Ronald Dean Smith was born September 26, 1949, in Defiance, Ohio, the son of Lyle DeWayne and Mabel (Pursel) Smith. He graduated from Antwerp High School in Antwerp, Ohio, in 1968 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army, spending one year in Korea.

He married Lynne Guenther in 1969 and they had a daughter, Cathy, before separating. He later married the love of his life, Carole (Stevenson) Sandler, on July 16, 1988, at First Congregational Church, Moline. Together they shared more than 37 years of marriage, facing many health challenges side by side with strength, devotion, and love.

Ron worked for John Deere Seeding for a total of 29 years before retiring due to his health in 2009. In the middle of his time at John Deere, he spent around 10 years as a truck driver for Parker Distribution and Gless Brothers.

An active member of First Congregational Church, Ron served on several committees, helped with confirmands, and was head usher for many years. He was a member of UAW Local #434, where he served as Secretary/Treasurer and President. Ron was also involved with the Elks, serving three terms as Exalted Ruler of Rock Island Elks Lodge #980 and later holding membership with Davenport Elks Lodge #298.

Ron was especially proud of his military service and was a tireless advocate for veterans. He served on the Veterans Board for the Illinois Elks Association, was Veteran Chairman at John Deere Seeding, and volunteered with Quad Cities Stand Down in support of homeless veterans.

He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed bowling – earning a perfect 300 game- and was a fan of drag racing, particularly John Force and Kasey Kahne. Ron also enjoyed college and professional football and was a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan.

Above all else, Ron found his greatest joy in “doing something for someone that needed it.” He never met a stranger, and his warmth, generosity, and compassion will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Carole; his daughter, Cathy (Christopher) Gimm of Davenport, Iowa; his step-daughter, Amy (James Starr) Biscontine of Rock Island; grandchildren, Noah Biscontine and Michael (JaLynn) Gimm; two great-granddaughters; siblings, Betty (Ronald) Figgins of Ohio, Mary Applegate of Indiana, Elaine (Rick) Wiegmann of Indiana, Jerry Smith of Arizona, and Pat Smith of Indiana; sister-in-law, Carolyn Smith of Oregon; his ex-son-in-law, Antonio Biscontine, with whom he remained close; Carole’s sister and brother-in-law, Kaye and Jay Newton; close friends, Robin (the late Kurt) Bealer, Pam (the late Mike) Thonn, and their families; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Allen Smith, who was killed in Vietnam; his brother, Larry Smith; his brother-in-law, Wayne Applegate; and his four-legged sweetheart, Hilde.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.