Ronald Lawrence Downing, Tonganoxie, KS, came into the world ready to rock on September 1, 1965, and he exited the stage on October 11, 2024, surrounded by family following a battle with cholangiocarcinoma.

It's easy to say his life was shaped by three primary arcs: music, love, and sports, and they would interweave throughout his life.

While Ron was never the kid in the school choir, preferring to hit the hoops on the court, his love of late 80s rock n' roll led him to chase a dream all the way to Hollywood.  If David Lee Roth, Jon Bon Jovi, and others could make it, so could he, and he wanted more than anything to be a lead singer in a band.  California was a time of big hair, loud music, and a world of possibilities, and it would also be some of the best years of his life.  Ron forged his way as a lead singer, making lifelong connections and friendships along the way, even if not landing the elusive record deal.  He relished telling tales of these years, of the places and people along the way, such as hanging out and talking music with Bret Michaels at an area bar.  Later in life he would be repeatedly mistaken for a variety of singers, most notably David Coverdale from Whitesnake, and always got a kick out of it and played it up.

Unfortunately, Ron's musical dreams hit the pause button when he battled his first health issue and a trip to Mayo, which forced his return back to Texas, then Kansas, and a different path in life.

While his first attempt at college at the University of Wisconsin wasn't quite a success, his start at the University of Kansas was.  He followed the sports path with a focus in sports psychology, and a small obsession with golf led him to jobs at GCSAA and then ultimately as a Golf Course Assistant Superintendent at Alvamar Country Club.  He loved working a golf course and developed what might even be called an unhealthy lifelong obsession with grass maintenance at home!  But Alvamar soon wasn't just about the greens; it was also where he met the love of his life: his wife Tisha.

He and Tisha kept their budding romance largely on the down low, both at work and at home.  He routinely said he was hanging out with "a friend," but it soon became apparent it was more than that.  It was really the beginning of a beautiful love story that was wrapped up in a whirlwind romance.  In short fashion, they married, blended a family, and added a baby girl to the mix.  Fate can be cruel, and just 13 months into marriage, Tisha was killed in a car accident, leaving Ron and Frankie to face the world as a duo.

The years that followed would be challenging, but he always remained truly in love with Tisha.  With the support of family and close friends, he spent every waking moment pouring his energy into being the best dad to Frankie he could ever be. He was her rock and hero, and it could be said she was probably his too.  He lived for Frankie.

And so in late 2023 when his health faced another crisis, it was imagined he could make his way through this difficulty to the other side too.  Only this time, the other side turned out to be a reconnection with Tisha.  He spent his remaining months in early retirement from his job at Industrial Sales.  He listened to tunes, played guitar, finally read his Dave Grohl book, and made it to see the Deadpool and Wolverine movie.  He was at peace with how his life would end when the time came.

Ron is survived by his daughter Frankie, his parents Pat and Ken, his sister Kim, along with his loving furbies: Ricky, Riley, and Pumpkin and grandcat Toby. He was preceded in death by his wife Tisha and both sets of grandparents.

Rather than a funeral service, Ron wanted to be remembered in true party form, and a celebration of life party will occur on Sat., Dec. 14th from 4:00-8:00 pm at Willcott Brewing and Taproom in Leavenworth, KS.  We're remembering him the way he'd want, including beer, a taco bar, and live music from Tungtied, a rock n' roll cover band.  Please RSVP if wishing to attend by reaching out to either Ron's Facebook page or his daughter Frankie.

Rock n' roll forever!