Ronald Dennis Andreen

Ronald D. Andreen, age 88, of Willmar, died Friday morning, September 25, at his home in Willmar. His memorial service will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 30th at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Social distancing and masks will be required.  Interment will be in Clover Leaf Cemetery with Military Honors by American Legion Post #167. Memorials are preferred.  Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.  www.hafh.org

Ronald Dennis Andreen was born on December 21, 1931, in New London, Minnesota, the son of Andrew and Anna Johanna (Jensen) Andreen.  He was one of thirteen children.  He attended Kandiyohi County District 98 School and graduated from New London High School in 1949.  After high school, he joined the Willmar National Guard and was activated during the Korean War.  Upon his discharge, he worked in Kandiyohi and Willmar.  On August 7, 1954, he married Ione Eloise Latterell.  They anticipated living in Willmar, except three weeks before their marriage Ron took a job with the National Guard in Minneapolis.  Four moves later, they returned to Willmar where Ron worked for the National Guard and was a Justice of the Peace for Willmar Township.  During this period, he performed at least fifteen marriages.  He was later promoted to Warrant Officer and accepted a position on St. Paul at the Adjutant Generals Office.  In 1970, he received a direct commission and went on Active Duty for the next eighteen years.  He retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and had a total of over 38 years of military service.

While on active duty, Ron completed his Bachelor and Master degrees.  He also completed the Army Command and General Staff College and National Defense University.  While on active duty, they lived in St. Paul, MN, Denver, CO, Great Lake Naval Base in Illinois, and the Presidio of San Francisco in California.

Upon retirement, Ron and Ione returned to Willmar where he worked as a Real Estate Appraiser for several years.  He then started volunteering and completed 25 years at the Willmar Area Food Shelf and over 500 funerals as a member of the Willmar American Legion Honor Guard.  He also volunteered for Rice Hospice as a patient volunteer in the Honor the Veterans program.  He was very active in many programs at Calvary Lutheran Church.  Ron was a member of the Willmar Planning Commission for six years and also the Willmar Charter Commission for six years. 

He was proud of his recognition as a recipient of the WCCO Good Neighbor Award as well as recently being named the 2020 Veteran Volunteer of the Year by the Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care.  He enjoyed fishing, bowling, and golfing, and made a hole in one at Valley Golf Course.

He is survived by his wife: Ione; two daughters: Jayne Andreen (Patrick Sheppard) and Julie (Robert) Lutz; a son: Timothy Andreen (Mary Kay McShea); five grandchildren: Amanda, Rebecca, Bradley, Jacob, and Margaret; two brothers, Oscar Andreen of Milpitas, CA and Paul (and Carol) Andreen of Spicer;  sister, Florence Prosser, of St. Paul; a brother-in-law: Dale (Sharon) Latterell of Willmar; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers and three sisters.

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