Family of the Month – Ron Etzel

Ron Etzel and family have been selected as our May Family of the Month.  Ron is a lifelong member of the St. Boniface parish in Sublimity.  He continued a long family legacy by joining the Knights of Columbus St. Anthony Council around 1975.  This family legacy is important to Ron and one of the primary reasons he is a Knight.  “Following in the footsteps of my ancestors in the Etzel and Silbernagel families, most especially my Dad Albin and his brothers, I made the decision to join the Knights while in my early 20’s,” says Ron.  “I have had wonderful experiences, as well as opportunities to work with many wonderful Catholic gentlemen, serving alongside them while supporting the works of the Knights of Columbus.”  Of all the causes the Knights support, Ron is most passionate about Sanctity of Life.

Ron comes from a long line of Etzel’s that made their home in the area.  “I grew up in a life of farming, where a tremendous work ethic was installed,” says Ron.  He worked as a mechanic for Stayton Canning Company (which later became Norpac Foods) for almost 38 years.

Ron has always been an active Knight, serving his community and the council in many ways.  Ron served as Grand Knight for Council 2439 in 1978-80, and was awarded our council’s first ‘Council of the Year’ award.  As a Knight he has chaired numerous projects including the sausage and sauerkraut booth during the early years of the Sublimity Harvest Festival, as well as many of the council’s famous steak fry dinners.  Ron also has fond memories of the early years of the council, including playing poker after meetings with brother Knights (a tradition we’ve recently started up again with our monthly Game Knight.)

He currently serves on the City of Sublimity Planning Commission.  He has served on the Santiam Hospital Board of Directors for almost 20 years, and is currently Chairman of the Board.

Most recently Ron has been very active in the Santiam Canyon wildfire relief efforts.  He’s worked side by side with the Santiam Canyon Service Integration Team and helped with the Anthony Hall donation center.  Whatever needs to be done, Ron is there with a smile on his face, a story to share, and a willingness to help.

Ron and Anne have been married for 38 years.  They have two grown children and one grandchild.  Their daughter Katie and her husband Randy live in lake Oswego with granddaughter Madeleine.  Their son Mike and his wife Carol live in South Salem.

While not volunteering, working on a project in his shop, or playing with his granddaughter, Ron enjoys his vacations with Anne.  Ron says that “Anne and I frequently vacation in Mazatlán, Mexico where they have the biggest shrimp on the planet.  We absolutely love it there.”

 

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About Family of the Month

Each month our Family Committee selects one parish family that models Christian family values and visibly lives them every day.  The Family of the Month program promotes and supports the development of strong and vibrant families.  It also helps us learn a bit more about our brother Knights.

Once a year, our council also selects one of the previous Family of the Month winners to represent the council/parish as the potential international Family of the Year. The Knights of Columbus Family of the Year is chosen by the Supreme Council and recognized each year at the annual Supreme Convention.