Ronald Wayne Hongsermeier, 67, of Erding, Germany died at his home after a sudden illness on December 1, 2020. A proud American and native Illinoisan, Ron was born to Roy W. and Wilma L. Hongsermeier at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska on December 31,1952.
His formative years were spent in the close knit community of Mt. Morris, Illinois where civic responsibility, a strong work ethic and church attendance shaped his early life. While at school he excelled both academically and athletically graduating from Mt. Morris High School in 1971.
An extensive higher education yielded multiple collegiate degrees including a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Linguistics from University of Illinois – Urbana in 1975. Additionally, Ron received a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois in 1980. During his study of theology, Ron was an exchange student at Theological Seminary in Ewersbach, Germany and Theological Department at Phillips University in Marburg, Germany. While there, he gained a deep appreciation for the people of Germany and their culture.
Through extensive study, Ron had become an exemplary theologian. He was a highly educated man. However, he had a pastors heart and a deep desire to serve others as well. He was determined to translate his exhaustive knowledge of Scripture into an active living faith that would lead people to Christ.
In 1981, he was commissioned as a missionary with the Evangelical Free Church of America.
In 1982, he began his missionary work in Germany as Youth Pastor with the Freie Evagelische Gemeinde, (Free Evangelical Community) in Munich.
In 1988, upon completion of his missionary service, Ron returned to the United States. In 1989, he accepted the role of Pastor at Olive Drive Bible Church in Bakersfield, California.
In 1991, Ron returned to Germany taking a position as Stationsmeister (Station Master) at Munich International Airport. His career encompassed 27 years of dedicated service where he excelled in customer service, crisis management, and worked diligently on an improvement model for fire brigade support. He received several commendations for excellence and gained the respect of the employers, co-workers and customers he served.
Ron was a lifelong learner. His personal library housed MANY hundreds of books. He was knowledgeable on scripture, political and social issues, proficient in multiple data base computer programs and enough of a craftsman to explore yacht and boat design and construction, even to building his own canoe!
His many talents were eclipsed by his ever-present desire to serve others. He maintained affiliations with Evangelisch-Freikirchliche Gemeinde, (Evangelical Free Church Community) in Erding, and Munich International Community Church where he participated in Small Group Ministry, Bible Study and church planting initiatives.
Ron is preceded in death by his father, Roy William Hongsermeier (1986). He is survived by his mother, Wilma L. (Coble) Hongsermeier, of Mt. Morris, Illinois, his sons Lukas Ransom and Jeremy Lazar and their mother, Isolde (Auer) Hongsermeier, of Gruhnbach, Germany, two brothers Michael L.(Mary) Hongsermeier of Rockford, Illinois and Bruce A.(Cindy) Hongsermeier of Mt. Morris, Illinois, and several devoted nieces and nephews and their families.
We would like to thank our family and friends both here and abroad for the heartfelt expressions of sympathy we received via multiple social media outlets. Thank you for sharing your memories of Ron with us. We are grateful.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 31,2021 at 11am. At Mt. Morris Evangelical Free Church, 102 S. Seminary Ave. Mt. Morris, Illinois 61054. Memorials to Mt. Morris Evangelical Free Church
