Ronald U "Ron" Partlow

1938 - 2009

PREEMPTION - Ronald U. 'Ron' Partlow, 71, Preemption, died Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at Trinity Terrace Park in Bettendorf, Iowa.

A celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the New Windsor Fair Grounds in New Windsor. Entombment will follow at Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery in Rock Island. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Peterson Wallin Knox Funeral Home in Alpha. Memorials may be left to New Kingdom Trail Riders, New Windsor Rodeo or New Windsor Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be made at www.petersonwallinknox.com.

He was born May 27, 1938, in Rock Island, a son of Urban Grant and Dora Rose Frederickson Partlow. He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1956.

Ron worked for 13 years at Lucille's Pie Shop in Milan, later owning the business from 1966 to 1980. He then owned and operated Country Flowers and Gift Shop in New Windsor and purchased the Viola Flower Shop. He delivered for Bonnett's Wholesale Florist in Milan, retiring in 2006.

Since 1955, Ron was a well known professional rodeo announcer throughout the United States and Canada. He was announcer for the New Windsor Fair and Rodeo since 1967 and in 1972 he founded the New Windsor Drill Team, which for many years toured the Midwest performing at parades, horse shows and rodeos. He was affiliated with Latting Rodeo Productions in Chicago since 1976 and for many years he was a rodeo buddy with his best friend and brother, Dick. Ron entertained at many community functions with his original poetry and wrote many patriotic openings and finales for rodeo events.

He was a member, deacon and elder of New Windsor Presbyterian Church, past president and director of the New Windsor Fair and Rodeo Association, past president of the Mid-Western Illinois Appaloosa Horse Club and past director of the Illinois Quarter Horse Association. He was a horse show judge, announced Class A Arabian Horse Shows and was a Mercer County 4-H leader for 20 years. He was also a member of the New Windsor Businessmen Association and the Depot Committee.

He is survived by two sons, Patrick (Brenda) Partlow of Aledo and Timothy (Shawna) Partlow of New Windsor; one daughter, Kelleen (Kevin) Langley of Winnsboro, Texas; six grandchildren, Bailey, Logan, McKayla, Alicia, Shaleen and Wade; one great-grandson, Emery; one brother, Darrell Partlow of Center, Texas; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Delores, Beverly and Charlotte; and two brothers, Gerry and Dick.