RONN JAMES LEFFLER

May 1, 1968 — April 7,2022

Ronn James Leffler was called home by our Heavenly Father on April 7, 2022 after sudden and unexpected heart failure, just shy of his 54th birthday. Ronn was born on May 1, 1968 – the fourth son and fifth and final child who his parents, Wilbur and Marlene, were blessed to add to their growing family.

As a boy, Ronn quickly proved himself to be a leader among his peers. He took on key positions in many student organizations. He was smart, excelled in sports, and had a charm and sense of humor which quickly made him an integral part of the student body. After graduating from Tokay High School in 1987, Ronn headed off to UC Berkeley to pursue a degree in Nutritional Science. While at Berkeley, Ronn played rugby, joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and made an impact there just as he did everywhere his journeys took him. After graduating from Cal, Ronn returned home to work on the family farm in Morada. As Ronn’s father tells it, the farm had humble beginnings as an uneven piece of land dotted with oak trees here and there. Over time, and after a few successful crops from a handful of acres planted in cherries, the farm became more profitable. Ronn’s dad planted most of the walnut trees from actual nuts, not seedlings from a nursery. After a strong operation had been established by their father, Ronn and his brothers Lance and Eric continued to employ modern farming practices, work hard, and enjoy overall success with the farming operation. Filled with confidence after years of success in Morada, Ronn and Lance decided to buy some additional ground together in the Arvin area near Bakersfield and planted that with cherry and mandarin trees. It’s difficult putting a new orchard into production – and there were stressful times – but their hard work, solid partnership, and business acumen eventually proved to make that a successful enterprise as well.

Ronn was proud of all of his siblings and loved them very much. They were all strong, smart, and athletic. He would tell many stories about each of them to his friends. His pride in them was always evident. And about Ronn’s friends … what an amazing fabric of people who were drawn to Ronn and called him their friend. They say “your friends are the family you choose,” and Ronn was chosen by many to be a part of their family. He was one of the most loyal and

generous friends anyone could ask for. He accepted the role of godparent for two of his closest friends’ kids and dutifully and lovingly carried out his role as a guiding light in their lives. He often visited the extended families of his friends “just because” that’s what his heart told him to do. On those visits, he usually had a box of cherries, or some olives or peppers or other produce from the very large and productive garden which he and Lance cultivated. He enjoyed practicing the art of canning some of that produce and making salami and other delicacies. Those would often make their way to his friends as gifts as well.

Ronn had several hobbies, including hunting. Many know the fabulous dinner preparations Ronn would put together following a duck hunt. He also enjoyed many card games and was frequently seated at various poker tables, including a regular game he played in with friends for many years. But probably his biggest passion was golf. He was a member of the Stockton Golf and Country Club for a number of years and made many friends there along the way. In recent years, he was a member of the Inland Sea (traveling) Golf Club and also the Elkhorn Golf Club, eventually purchasing a share of the place affectionately known to him and his friends as “the Horn.” A highlight of his amateur golf life came recently when he was able to shoot a round of even par at Castle Oaks Golf Club in Ione.

In the mid-2000s, Ronn met the woman who would become his wife. On November 5, 2007, Ronn and Wendy were married. Ronn accepted her son, Ben, as his own. In 2009, they were blessed with their daughter Ella. Ronn loved his family immensely. In Wendy, he had found a partner to navigate life’s twists and turns. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. Ronn could often be found picking up Ella from Elkhorn School, right across from his stomping grounds, Elkhorn Golf Club, where he would then settle in with Ella to enjoy an after-school snack. He enjoyed helping her on many school nights with homework, especially math. In all ways and at all times, he was a loving father.

Ronn is preceded in death by his mother, Marlene Lynette Sanguinetti Leffler; and sister-in-law, Susan Lynn Leffler. He is survived by his wife, Wendy Lynn Leffler; stepson, Benjamin Reece Fauth; daughter, Ella Sophia Leffler; brothers, Duke (Paula) Thomas Leffler, Eric David Leffler, Lance Sanguinetti Leffler; sister, Shannon Carol Leffler; and nieces and nephews, Libby, Hilary, Duke, Lauren, Haley, Zachary, and Ryan.

Please keep Ronn’s loved ones in your prayers as they navigate life without their beloved husband, father, son, brother, and uncle.

There will be a private family Mass at a yet-to-bedetermined date.

There will also be a public Celebration of Life at Elkhorn Golf Club on April 27, from 1-5 PM. All are welcome!

Please sign the guest book at lodinews.com/ guestbook.