Ronald Allan Spriester

Ronald Allan Spriester September 17, 1953 – April 9, 2025

Ronald Allan Spriester, a beloved husband, father, and brother, passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his loving wife on April 9, 2025, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. He was only 71 years old.

Born at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois on September 17, 1953, Ron entered the world during his father's Army service. Ron's parents were Northwestern University music majors, with his father later serving as the band director at Deerfield High School for many years. Consequently, Ron and his siblings were introduced to music at an early age. Following in his father's footsteps, he took up the trumpet and enjoyed playing well into his adult years in the Deerfield Community Band and The Big Band Sound of Deerfield.

Ron also inherited his maternal grandfather's interest in carpentry, dedicating over 40 years to his craft. As a journeyman, Ron worked on hundreds of homes throughout Lake County, Illinois, and beyond. He leaves behind a lasting legacy of meticulous craftsmanship reflected in the quality of his work.

In 1984, Ron met the love of his life, Sharon Nolan, on a blind date. Together, they received Jesus as their Lord and Savior and were later married on September 19, 1987. Ron and Sharon chose to educate their three children at home and have had the joy and privilege of watching each of them succeed academically and build their own fulfilling lives. While their children were young, Ron volunteered many hours working at their local church, often bringing his son, Brett, along.

Following his retirement in 2014, Ron embraced the opportunity to serve his community by offering his carpentry skills to others and keeping up with village projects and board meetings. He also enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and cultivating his garden. He remained a dedicated Northwestern fan, attending as many sporting events as possible with enthusiasm and pride.

Ron was steady, honest, intuitive, thoughtful, and fun-loving. He wasn't a man who sought attention but preferred to observe and support from the sidelines, profoundly touching the lives of those around him. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void, yet his legacy of love, faith, and humor endures in all who were lucky enough to know him.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Dorothy (née Zarbock). He is survived and deeply missed by his wife of 37 years, Sharon (née Nolan), and his children: Brett (Julie) Spriester of Wheeling, Janna (Justin) Scrivner of Lake Villa, and Bonnie (Andrew) Pierce of Mundelein. He also leaves behind his siblings: Pam (Paul) Bell, Sandy (Carl) Markowitz, Laurie (Russ) Davis, Terri Spriester, and Bart (Mary) Spriester, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial gathering to honor Ron's life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Strang Funeral Chapel in Grayslake, Illinois. Visitation will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Northwestern Memorial Foundation , supporting the ongoing search for cancer treatments and cures. For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact 847-223-8122.