Ronnie James Landis

Ronnie James Landis passed away peacefully in his sleep, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in his home in Waynesville, Missouri, dying as he lived … hoping not to be a bother to anyone. Ron was born December 16,1944, in Clarinda, Iowa, to Clyde and Maxine (Hullinger) Landis. He graduated from Clarinda High School in 1963, where he played baseball and worked at the local Hy-vee grocery store. After attending a local community college, he eventually landed at Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, Missouri, where he received a degree in History and English. While there, he met the love of his life, Linda Lay, and after lots of encouragement from his friends and a little ‘liquid courage’ to give him some confidence, he called her and asked her on a date. They were united in marriage on August 27, 1967, in Ellston, Iowa. To this union came six children -- Melissa Ann Blau, Bryan André Landis, Ricardo Thomas Landis, James Andrew Landis, Ryan Townsend Landis, and Joseph Nathaniel Landis. Ron and Linda were lifelong advocates for foster care and adoption, adopting three children of their own and fostering several children throughout their marriage. After marrying Linda, Ron was drafted to serve during the Vietnam War, serving our country as asked for almost a year until being returned home due to illness. When it came to academics, Ron’s first love was always history, but he was hired as a mid-year replacement English teacher for Carrollton Senior High School in Carrollton, Missouri, and he became a career English teacher for the district. Hundreds of students were trained in the art of the five-paragraph essay, and many still talk about the value of those lessons in effective writing skills. He is often remembered for the cane that he would sometimes use as he taught, emphasizing important points with a strategically placed loud bang. He spent many years of his career directing the fall musicals and the spring plays at the school, and even late in life he would talk about fantastic student performances that he still remembered. He also volunteered as a coach for basketball, volleyball, and tennis for the school. Later in his career he switched gears to become a librarian for the high school, helping the school move into the technological age of increased student computer use. After retiring from the high school, Ron briefly came out of retirement to teach a computer repair class for the Carrollton Career Center, and he even finally got the chance to teach a history class through a local community college. Ron was the epitome of what it means to love someone in sickness and in health as he cared for his wife through significant health struggles for the last twenty years of her life. He was her strength and her advocate through whatever came their way. He also served as the primary caregiver for his son, Ryan, throughout his life, up to the very end. In 2013 Ron, Linda, and Ryan left their beloved lifetime home in Carrollton and moved to Waynesville, Missouri, so that they could be closer to family as they faced increasingly difficult health struggles. Ron and Linda loved to bicycle before health issues made it impossible for them to continue. They participated in RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, in the early 1970s, even pulling Melissa and Bryan behind them for the long journey. They loved to bike trails, whether it was in Wisconsin or Watkins Mill State Park or the Katy Trail in Missouri. Many a Saturday morning was spent dragging their (sometimes) reluctant children on long rides over the country roads in Carroll County Missouri. Ron was also an avid gardener who loved trying his hand at new things like beekeeping and raising angry goats. He and Linda were always planting fruit trees on their property which never quite produced the fruit they were supposed to produce, but their hope was eternal. Ron was an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals for his entire adult life … and not only when the team played well. He loved watching them, even during the rough years. He was no fair-weather fan, and he loved to attend games with his family every year that he could. Like a true Royals fan, he always rejoiced in the dramatic wins, while constantly expecting something bad to happen which would lead to defeat. Ron would not want for anyone to fuss over his death, but he does leave behind many to mourn his passing. He leaves behind his six children -- Melissa Blau (Herman) of Waynesville, MO, Bryan Landis (Michale) of Aiea, HI, Rick Landis (Annie) of Columbia, MO, James Landis (Amy) of Kansas City, KS, Ryan Landis of Waynesville, MO, and Joseph Landis (Sarah) of St. Louis, MO; seven grandchildren -- Laney Rutter (Ryan), Savannah Sutton (David), Spencer Blau (Bella), Kathryn Ashby (Travis), Hyrum Blau, Joseph Blau, Eliza Blau, and Hannah Waggoner; one great-grandchild -- John; and two siblings -- Rose Wolfe (Louis) of Sioux City, IA, and Carroll Landis (Sherri) of Lincoln, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents, his eternal love, Linda, and his older brother, Richard. A small memorial service will be held, Sunday, June 26, at 3 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in St. Robert, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate to a charity making a difference in the world (the more obscure, the better), and to choose kindness in your interactions with others.

Ronnie James Landis

December 16, 1944 - June 15, 2022