Ronald S. Cail

DANVILLE - Ronald Stanley Cail, 78, died of natural causes at 10:20 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025, at OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center, Danville.  

His funeral service will be a private event held in Danville followed by military funeral honors at the National Cemetery in Danville.

Ronald Cail was born Aug. 9, 1946, in Danville, to Alonzo B. Cail and Frances Mason Cail. He was the youngest of three children. 

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Phyllis Blanden and Janice Lewis.

He graduated from Schlarman Academy Catholic High School in 1964. Ronald also served in the U.S. Army in 1966, during the Vietnam War. After serving, Mr. Cail worked at General Electric Company and later as a cook at the VA in Danville. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he studied music theory and theology. He retired from General Mills in West Chicago.

Ron married Estela Gonzalez on Sept. 4, 1971. They raised two children, Christina Cail-Lewandowski and Ronald J. Cail. Mr. Cail has an additional son, James JB Brittingham. In 2018, he remarried and recently became a widower in 2023. 

Ron enjoyed fishing anywhere he could find water and playing jazz on his multiple number of pianos. He often wrote his own music and would perform at weddings. His gift was the ability to play music by ear. Ron also enjoyed traveling. 

His family paid this tribute to him, "Dad was one of the kindest people you could ever meet, his smile and laughter brightened up any room."

He is survived by one daughter, Christina, married to Eric Lewandowski and two sons, Ronald, married to Melanie Cail, and James. He has six grandchildren, Jasmine, Treyviere, Cameron, Jalen, Marcus and Jayden. Ronald has one great-granddaughter named Brooklyn and several nephews and nieces.