Ronald Earl Noren
October 23, 1946 - February 17, 2025
Obituary
Ronald Earl Noren, 78, of Tacoma, WA passed away peacefully February 17, 2025, surrounded by his family.
He was born to parents Earl and Eldora Noren in Mora, MN on October 23, 1946. Growing up in Isanti, MN with his brother and 2 sisters, he graduated from Cambridge High School. He was drafted into the United States Army in November, 1965. Honorable discharge in November, 1967.
During Ron’s illustrious truck driving career, he started driving early in life driving a school bus and a milk truck to ending with industrious gasses. In between was short and long-haul truck driving that included moving building materials and machinery, granite and steel pipe, gasoline and fuel oil, frozen food and fresh produce, cabinets/millwork and wood products.
Married to Donna, his high school sweetheart, was his foray into fatherhood for Ron with Veronica, Guy & Melissa. His second marriage to Leslie and now a stepfather to Erik. During this time was the when he was first diagnosed with PLS, a form of ALS around 1994. This forced him into early retirement in 2006. He became a widower and met June who was also widowed. Serendipitously, they share the same birth date and June became his life partner and stood by his side throughout all the real medical challenges that PLS entailed in the latter part of his life.
Conversion van that housed his wheelchair and the love of driving, took them all around the lower 48. Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, Cape Canaveral, Florida, Nascar Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Caroline and Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio are just a handful of the highlights. They split their time between Redding, California and Tacoma, Washington going between to two homes up until June of 2024.
Ron is survived by his brother Bruce, partner JoEllen, sister Marilyn, partner Steve, and his sister Trudy. His aforementioned children and their partners, Mike, Travis, Cari and Bao as well as his plethora of nieces and nephews. His grandchildren, Crystal, Luke, Brandon, Jake, Mason and Marek and his extended family of June’s, as well.
Seahawk supporter, Mariner lover, coin collector, needle pointer never complained and did not allow his disease to stop him from doing what he loved.
