Ron passed from this world peacefully on June 7, 2026. He was 88 years old.

Ron was born on St. Patrick’s Day, 1938, in Lansing, Michigan to G. Irene Tilley, along with his identical twin, Robert. The boys were adopted by William K. Sanborn in 1940. Ron grew up in Traverse City, MI, after the family moved there in 1944.

Ron graduated from TC Central HS in 1956 and attended Ferris State College. He enlisted in the US Army in 1959, and married Nancy K. Depky on August 27, 1960 in Traverse City, before deployment to the Canal Zone in Panama. He and Nancy welcomed their first born, Ronald Jr, in May 1962 while in Panama. With an Honorable Discharge in October, 1962, he returned to Traverse City. A daughter and another son joined the family in the years that followed.

Ron began his selected field of construction engineering and management in 1962. His career took him to Colorado in 1979 where he worked on numerous roadway and bridge projects in Wyoming, Utah, Florida, and throughout Colorado.

Ron loved being outdoors whether working, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, canoeing, golfing, or gardening. He enjoyed his time in the woods and looked forward to annual hunting excursions to his cabin in Michigan’s woods or the mountains of Colorado. He also enjoyed watching sporting events, especially NFL football. And heaven help whomever was his partner, Ron took the game of Euchre far too seriously.

Ron retired in 2000 and returned to Traverse City. In 2018 after the loss of his beloved wife of 57 years, he moved west again, to Wyoming, to be closer to his family. There he was fortunate to be able to watch moose and mule deer from the windows of his apartment.

Ron is survived by his daughter, Kimberly MacDonnell of Pinedale, WY; twin granddaughters Haley Brogan (Spencer Chase) of Los Gatos, CA, and McKenzie (Kyle) Sullivan of Daniel, WY; and great granddaughter, Palmer Grace. Also surviving are his sister, Suzanne (Albin) Rosinski, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; sons Ronald Jr and Jonathan Shawn; identical twin, Robert; mother, Irene Adams; adoptive father, William Sanborn; and step father, Jack V. Adams.

Ron requested cremation with no services, and that his ashes be spread in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and over the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. To remember Ron, just take a hike in the woods. He’s there somewhere.