Ronald Keith Sullivan

Ron was born on February 20, 1930, to Delbert Sullivan and Ruth Nihart in Caldwell, Idaho. At the age of 17, Ron joined the United States Army, where he served as a Combat Medic Specialist in Korea and Japan. While in Japan, he worked closely with a physician who taught him how to speak Japanese. Even in his final days, Ron would often recite various phrases and sing songs in Japanese. After his service in the U.S. Army, Ron returned home and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Idaho. While in college, he was part of the Air Force ROTC and served in the Air Force Reserve.

It was at the University of Idaho where Ron met Martha Mick. They met and were married in 1954. After college, Ron and Martha moved to Boise, Idaho, where they had six children: Coleen, Michael, Karla, Patrick, Theresa and Shannon. In 1965, they moved to Colorado, where they raised their six children and their grandson, Christopher. Ron enjoyed a challenging career as a Regional Sales Manager for GlaxoSmithKline. In his free time Ron could be found on a local golf course, working in his yard or relaxing on his back porch swing, enjoying the sun, the quiet, and his years of handiwork.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Delbert and Ruth, three of his children, Coleen Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, and Theresa Sullivan, and his grandson, Ashton Croft. He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Martha, his sister, Joyce Cole and half-sister, Dianna Longoria; his children: Michael Sullivan, Karla (Obadiah) Franklin, Shannon (Kevin) Croft; his grandchildren: Anna (Dave) Rutter, Esteban (Mandy) Lopez, Jacqueline (Tim) Horsch, Justin (Amy) Logel, Christopher (Rachel) Sullivan, Brittany Croft Worthy, Brandon Croft, Cameron Croft, Jonathan (Amanda) Croft, Ethan Croft, Nathan Croft, Kaley Croft, Landon Croft; great-grandchildren: Emma, Elias, Magdalena, Sullivan, Savannah, Aiden, Alyssa, Arabelle, Theodore, Atticus, Addison, and Jolie as well as twelve step-grandchildren.

In his later years, Ron’s short-term memory began to fade and he would often reminisce about his early childhood home on the Snake River, where he worked on his father’s potato farm and spent time with his grandmother, who would take him to Pentecostal church.

Ron was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and truly had a heart of gold. He was witty and silly and could make anyone laugh– always the life of the party. Ron loved Jesus and often quoted John 3:16 and Psalm 23. He will forever be loved and missed.

Services for Ron will be held in June (date TBD), at Fort Logan National Cemetery.