Ronald Muse

Gladstone, MI
Ronald Muse, age 71, of Gladstone passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2013 at his home, with his family by his side, following a lengthy illness.

Ron was born January 21, 1942 in New Castle, Indiana to James “Hiram” and Thelma (Ratliff) Muse. The family moved to Michigan in 1952. During his adolescent and teenage years Ron fostered a love of music. He played the trombone in the band and had a singing voice to be envied. He was a member of a male quartet in high school which auditioned and was accepted to perform on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. He was also a talented harmonica player. He was old time gospel and classic country music through and through. He instilled his love of music in his children and grandchildren as well. He also enjoyed playing sports in his younger years with a real passion for baseball. In 1960 he attended the Detroit Tigers open tryout. He was called back for a second appearance but at the same time he was offered a job with VanEss Construction Company, later known as Sub-Surface Underground Construction Company, and decided to take the job instead of attending the call back. This was the start of a lifelong career in underground gas work and fiber optics. He was especially proud that he was able to be a mainline pipeline inspector for a few years later in life until chemotherapy brought him back home to work locally again.

Ron enjoyed the outdoors more than most. He was outside from sun-up to sun-down. He loved being in his garden and taking a bite out of that first vine ripe tomato. He grew loads of pumpkins for the grandchildren and to feed his backyard influx of deer. He was an avid snowmobiler and could take you anywhere in the U.P. via trail. He was an animal lover through and through. His dog, Daisy, and he would ride for hours on the Side-by-Side. Daisy went to work with Ron every day riding shotgun and guarding the truck when he was away. Ron enjoyed being on the lake fishing, frozen or open water, and loved a good fish fry often. He loved morrell mushroom picking, BlackBerry and June berry picking, taking Sunday drives on back roads and exploring small lakes and trails. Ron enjoyed an occasional dinner at the casino and doing a little gambling. He and Lois loved taking their annual camping trip to Munising with good fiends Ed and Val. Ron had a vast number of friends that he made across the country during his work travels. These friends meant so much to him and many of them stayed in contact with him for the duration of his illness.

Ron is going to be sadly and painfully missed and lovingly remembered by everyone who knew him.

Ron is survived by his wife, Lois of Gladstone; his children, Carrie (Brett) Muse-Mead of Gladstone, Misse Muse of Fremont, IN, Kim Heffelfinger of Angola, IN, Marty (Barb) Muse of Fremont, IN and Sherry (Jim) Stevens of Muskegon, MI; grandchildren, Brayden, Bryar and Breelynn Muse-Mead, Tiffani and Kodi Bater, Danielle Miller, Amberley (Phil) Kerr, Andrew (Lindsey) Stevens and Adam Stevens; great grandchildren, Taja, Tozlin, Telissa, Phil and Hunter; sister, Judy Muse of Grand Rapids, MI; brothers, Jim (the late Dorothy) Muse of Anderson, IN and Frank (Lynne) Muse of Bemidji, MN; many nieces and nephews and his loving four legged companion, Daisy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Athalie Williams.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 4 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Closing prayers will conclude the visitation. Ron will be laid to rest in the Fernwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Ron