Ronald J. Sweat, age 77, of Manhattan, Kansas, died Saturday morning, May 2, 2015, at the Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan.
He was born on June 25, 1937, in Kirwin, Kansas the son of Eugene and Jean (Stuckman) Sweat. Ron was raised in the Phillips and Smith Counties in Kansas where he attended elementary school at Claudell and graduated from Kensington High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in Manhatttan.
Ron was united in marriage to the former Janet M. Robinson on June 7, 1961, in Marion, Kansas. This union was blessed with three sons: Tracy, Nolan and Corey.
Ron taught Vo-Ag in Marion, Kansas prior to starting his career in banking. Throughout his banking career he worked in Beloit, Kansas, Wakeeney, Kansas, where he served as the bank president, Colby, Kansas and Bethany, Missouri. After two years at the bank in Bethany he went to work for Walters Brothers Oil Distribution Company where he was the bookkeeper until his retirement.
Ron moved to Manhattan in 2001 and soon became a member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Other memberships included the Manhattan Kiwanis Club, where he had served as club secretary and most recently as club president (2013-14). He was also a member of the KSU Alumni Association and longtime supporter of the Mike Ahearn Scholarship Fund. Ron was an avid sports fan and held season tickets to every major sport at Kansas State.
Survivors include his two sons: Tracy M. Sweat, Fairfax, Virginia and Corey E. Sweat of Manhattan. Also surviving are his five siblings: Jean Crawley, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Vincent Sweat, Lago Vista, Texas; Donald Sweat, Syracuse, Nebraska; June Ankenbrandt, Olathe, Kansas; Jim Sweat, Cedar, Kansas and five grandchildren: Jacob, Mitchell, Ryan, Carter and Landon.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Janet, in 2010 and by their son, Nolan, in 2002.
The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2015, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. A wake service will follow at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015, at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2900 Kimball Avenue, Manhattan. Father Don Zimmerman will be the celebrant.
Cremation is planned with private inurnment to be held at a later date.
On-line condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website located at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.
A memorial has been established for the KSU Foundation for the Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.