Ronald M. Jelus

DOUGLASSVILLE - Ronald M. Jelus, 81, of Keystone Villa, passed away on March 4, 2019.

He was born Jan. 25, 1938, in Mount Carmel, a son of the late Lena Kakiel.

Ron was raised by his mother in his hometown of Mount Carmel, which he loved and was proud to be called a "Coal Cracker."

As a boy, he worked as a paper boy, bingo caller and a lifeguard at Ideal Park. He sang in the church choir of Grace United Methodist and was a member with his friends of the "Five Joys Singers." He was voted "best dancer" in high school and was a proud four-year varsity football player for the Mount Carmel Area High School Red Tornadoes. His team won the state championship in 1954 and he was named captain his senior year with his cousin, Tom Revak.

He attended basic training in the summer between his sophomore and junior years of high school and Fork Union Military Academy post-graduation. Ron was recruited to play football at the University of Maryland in 1957.

Resuming his military career, he served in Korea from 1959 to 1961 and was a member of the Army All-Star Football Team, playing in the Rice Bowl in 1960. He was invited for a tryout with the Baltimore Colts of the NFL but suffered a knee injury and could not continue his football career.

Ron attended the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School and loved golfing at Edgmont Country Club in Delaware County, where he later moved, marrying his high school sweetheart Jeanette Kulick and having two children, Ronna and Blaine Jelus. He lived on Wood Road and Stewart Place in Secane, Pa., for 35 years.

He worked at Pathmark food stores and was also a "repo man" for the Ritter Finance Co. He worked for Continental Bank as vice president of merchants sale and later at Mid-Atlantic Bank and PNC Bank for over 30 years.

He retired in Collegeville in 2005. He was a member of Primos-Secane Swim Club and served on its board of directors and was also a coach briefly at the Clifton Heights Boys Club. He was also on the board of directors at the Court Yard in Collegeville.

He loved golfing and played in the Italian Open Golf Outing in Elysburg for over 40 years. He was an avid gardener and could whistle a bird onto his shoulder. He loved singing, dancing and drinking Manhattans. Ron loved to throw crab parties in his backyard and perform with his world-famous singing trio "Hank and The Ronettes."

He was predeceased by his mother, Lena Jelus Kakiel, and is survived by his wife, Jeannette Jelus; his sister, Joan Jelus Benedict and her husband, Tony, of Pottsville; his daughter, Ronna Jelus Marenger and her husband, James, of Collegeville; and his son, Blaine Jelus and his wife Debbie, of Broomall. He was proud of his seven grandchildren: Taylor, Devyn, Jarrod, Blake, Luke, Isabella and Jude.

When you think of him, sing a song.

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JELUS - Ronald M. Jelus, 81, of Keystone Villa, Douglassville. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the Danjolell Memorial Home of Broomall, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall, PA 19008. Funeral services to follow at 11 a.m.