Ronald Kuffel

Ronald Lloyd Kuffel, 81, of Sauk Centre, Minnesota and formerly of Minneapolis, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2016 in Sauk Centre following a brief illness.

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Ron will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 1:30 p.m. in St. Paul's Church Upper Gathering Room prior to the Mass. Rev. Greg Paffel will preside.

Ron was born on November 15, 1934 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Mabel Mae Edson and Alexander Peter Kuffel. He had a younger brother, Peter Lee and they grew up in South Minneapolis surrounded by neighbors and schoolmates who later became lifelong friends. He entered the US Air Force in 1954 and received an honorable discharge six years later. He was proud of his military service and spoke of it often throughout his long life.

He was a longtime employee of the local telephone company, finishing his service with Lucent Technologies where he installed and maintained computerized switchboard systems. Many of those years were spent servicing hospitals, where he made many friends.

Perhaps this is the defining characteristic of Ron's life; he loved talking with people and reached out wherever he went, all those who know him will attest. In his later life, he spent his time at the family lake home on Sauk Lake Road and with his sons from Blaine, Minnesota, Youngstown Ohio and Singapore.
Ron is survived by his wife, Carol Rose, sons and daughters-in-law, Christopher (Rosana "Ros"), Paul (Jacqueline "Jackie") and Charles (Therese "Teri") and grandchildren, Isabel and Alex; Erik and his wife, Emily, and Kirsten; and Veronica, Zachary, Nicholas, and Gabriel.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Peter.