Ronald A. "RT" Thalacker, age 70 of Amana, died Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a brief illness. Funeral services: 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, with Rev. Joseph Polzin officiating. Inurnment: St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Homestead, Iowa. Friends may call after 9:00 A.M. Tuesday until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to Bethany Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

Ron is survived by three sons, John (Michele) Thalacker of Baxter, Steve Thalacker of Amana, and David (Heidi) Thalacker of Fairfax; five grandchildren, Tim, Trevor, Will, Elizabeth and Benjamin; and a sister, Mary Ann Weber and husband Paul of Lakewood, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Betty Powers, an infant daughter, and his wife, Maureen, on March 23, 2009.

Ronald Albin Thalacker was born April 2, 1939 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the son of Albin and Malinda Deppert Thalacker He graduated from Sheboygan North High School in 1957 and then entered the US Navy where he served aboard the USS Saratoga. Ron went on to graduate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and then moved to Cedar Rapids when he started working for Amana Refrigeration. He was employed there for 35 years. He married Maureen Wetjen on August 31, 1963 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Homestead, Iowa.

Ron was a caring and loving husband, father, opa and brother. He dedicated himself to making sure his family had everything they needed, always putting them before himself. He enjoyed woodworking, mushroom hunting, gardening, the Green Bay Packers, and especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

A special thanks to St. Luke’s Hospice and the nurses and staff of St. Luke’s Oncology department for their compassionate care.