SUESS RONALD E

CW2 Ronald E. Suess was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/25/2015 at the age of 68.8 from Brain cancer
Cave Creek, AZ
Flight Classes 69-47 and 69-43
Date of Birth 03/27/1946
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 118 AHC in 70-71
Call sign in Vietnam THUNDERBIRD 15
This information was provided by Sammie Williams, John L. Keller

More detail on this person: Ron was born March 27, 1946 in Fremont, Nebraska. He died January 25, 2015 after a long battle with cancerous brain tumors in Cave Creek, Arizona. His younger years were spent on farms south of Arlington, Yutan, and a farm by Orum, Nebraska during his high school years at Arlington High School graduating in 1964. He attended Midland College and Wayne State College before joining the Army in 1969. He was a Warrant Officer and served his time in Viet Nam as a helicopter pilot. Returning to civilian life, he studied at Emory Aviation in Greeley, Colorado and earned fixed-wing and helicopter commercial licenses. February 1972 he and Sharon Hayne were married and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Ron worked in management at Thrifty Drug Stores, then sold commercial real estate, then spent 11 ½ years at Smitty's in retail management. In 1987 he moved his family to Flagstaff, Arizona where he co-owned a truck stop and several restaurants over the years. A chance meeting with another Viet Nam helicopter pilot from Nebraska led to flying helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon for 14 years for Air Star/Maverick Helicopters. He enjoyed flying again so much and also flew several charter trips. He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Suess. Survivors are Sharon, his wife, Madeline (mother) of Fremont, Nebraska, his son's Ryan (Keely) of Cave Creek, Arizona, and Justin (Emily) of Tucson, Arizona, and granddaughters Emma, Ellie, and Lillian. An urnside service will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, Monday, February 9 at 10AM. Memorial contributions may be made to Ron's family.

This information was last updated 08/05/2013

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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