March 1, 2022

Linn County News

Published March 2, 2022

Ronnie Dean Mendel, age 74, of Paola, passed away on Feb. 24, 2022, at Olathe Medical Center. 

Ron was born Feb. 11, 1948, in La Cygne, Kan., to Floyd (Jack) and Alta (Clearwater) Mendel. He graduated from La Cygne Rural High School in 1966.

On July 13, 1967, he married Carolyn Murphy in Vinita, Okla. Ron and Carolyn met working together at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. The couple lived in Bonner Springs, Kan., before moving to Paola, where Ron took over the American Family Insurance Agency. He retired in February 2007 after 31 years of service. 

Ron served as a reserve for the Miami County Sheriff Department. He was one of the founding members of the Miami County Cancer Foundation, where he remained an active member. Ron enjoyed his family and friends, riding motorcycles, hunting, camping, and wheeling-and-dealing on vehicles. 

 Preceding him in death were his wife; parents; brother, Cliff; sons, Jeff and Mike; grandson, Derry Flaherty; great-grandson, Jordan Flaherty; and in-laws, Emmett and Julia Murphy.

 He is survived by his children, Jim (Dee Anne) Mendel and Paula (Terry) Flaherty; partner, Paulette Bennett; sister, Joan (Delbert) Cornett; sister-in-law, Linda (Larry) Stewart; brother-in-law, Rodger (Cathy) Murphy; grandchildren, Ronnie (Dannae) Flaherty, Bryant Mendel, Katie Gatlin and Jimmy Daniels; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Serinity, Carolynn, Norma, Sarah, Bradley and Brayden; great-great grandson, Booker; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Miami County Cancer Foundation and sent c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Crematory, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, Kan. 66071.

Graveside inurnment services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Miami Memorial Gardens, Paola.