Ronald J. Eland, 90, of Green Bay, passed away on March 11, 2026 at Emerald Bay, surrounded by his loving family. Born on May 17, 1935 to Elmer and Mildred (Barr) Eland in the same family farmhouse where his mother had been born nineteen years earlier, Ron spent many cherished summers in Kewaunee helping his grandparents on the farm. He carried fond memories throughout his life of driving horses and later a John Deere tractor through the hayfields.
Ron graduated from East High School in Green Bay in 1954. He immediately enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving until his honorable discharge in 1956, after which he continued in the reserves. For more than 37 years, he worked as a machine adjustor for Procter & Gamble in Green Bay. Whether at work or at home, Ron was known for his remarkable ability to fix nearly anything, from industrial paper machines to his children’s toys.
On June 18, 1960, he married Darlene Louise DeVetter at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The couple shared more than 65 years of marriage. Ron had a deep love for the outdoors and especially enjoyed camping with his family in Northern Wisconsin and taking fishing trips to Canada. He and Darlene also traveled extensively together, visiting Europe, the Mediterranean, and many places across the United States, with particularly meaningful journeys to Pearl Harbor and Normandy.
Ronald is survived by his loving wife, Darlene; his children: Cheryl (Lisa) Czech, Barbara Eland, Sandra (Mark) Groeschel, Laura Eland-Gienapp, and David (Colleen) Eland; his grandchildren: Matt, Mike, and Adam Czech, Meghan Beau, Molly Vollmer and Andrew Groeschel, Damien and Nick Gienapp, and Landon and Reed Eland; his six great-granddaughters: Tessa, Lillie, Norah, Harlow, Elowynn, and Adella, and one great-grandson on the way; his siblings: Carol (the late Pete) Hauterbrook, Jill (the late Dave) McClure, Dave (JoAnn) Eland, and Kathy Eland; and many loving nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Mildred Eland.
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