Ronald D. Deutscher, 82, WaKeeney, died Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.  He was born April 1, 1935 in Hays to Reinhold and Clara (Hamburg) Deutscher.

He attended Union Grade School in Trego County and graduated from Ellis High School.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960.  His tour of duty was spent in Germany.  He drove a school bus for the Ogallah School District while also farming.  He was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church where he served multiple terms as a church council member.

He married Karen Hillman on July 22, 1967.  Ron served on the Trego County Coop Board and the Trego County Fair Board.  He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and Ellis Bowling League.  He was an avid supporter of the 4-H program and you could find him most times in the hog barn lending a hand wherever needed.

He is survived by his wife, Karen of the home; three children, Sonya Kostner of WaKeeney, Darrin (Deanna) Deutscher, Andover, and Shelly (Michael) Essary of Basehor, KS; seven grandchildren, Cassandra (Jason) Wilson, Derek (Haleigh) Kostner, Britney, Zoe and Adam Deutscher, and Anderson and Archer Essary; two great-grandchildren, Brynn Rains and Ryan Deutscher.  He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother Robert.