Dr. Ronald Joe Palenshus

On the morning of January 1, 2021, Dr. Ronald J. Palenshus, 77, of Summerville, SC (formally of Bucyrus, OH) unexpectedly went to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born Feb. 9, 1943 in Detroit, MI. He was the son of Otto A. Palenshus and Mildred B. Palenshus. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Roxanne R. Steiger Palenshus whom he married June 18, 1967. Dr. Ron attended St. James Military Academy in Minnesota through the 8th grade and later became a member of the first graduating class of Colonel Crawford High School in 1961. He attended Capital University for 2 years and then transferred to The Ohio State University to receive his Bachelors as well as his Doctorate of Dentistry in 1969. He served as a Captain in the US Army from 1969 to 1971 after which he returned to Bucyrus, OH where he practiced Dentistry for 40 years. His passion for Dentistry went well beyond his practice having served various offices in the Ohio Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He also served as President of the Ohio Academy of General Dentistry from 2002-2004 and achieved AGD Mastership. Dr. Ron was an active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran in Summerville, SC, where he started a prayer and fellowship group. He was a member of several churches throughout the years including Good Hope Lutheran, Bucyrus Church of the Nazarene, and First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island. He loved serving God and did so in several ways including mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, Senegal, and Mississippi. He was also involved with Habitat for Humanity and served with Volunteers of Medicine on Hilton Head Island. Dr. Ron was a lifelong Buckeye fan and loved to travel having visited 49 of the 50 states as well as several other countries. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Otto Palenshus, mother Mildred Palenshus, twin brother Donald Palenshus, father-in-law Harry Steiger, mother-in-law Dorothea Steiger Yaussy, and his “best friend” Tobi. He is survived by his wife Roxanne and their 4 adult children R. Craig (Heather) of Uniontown OH, Scot M. of West Chester OH, Chad E. (Dawn) of Goose Creek, SC, Tiffany N. of Bucyrus, and 8 grandchildren: Kylie, Hannah, Abigail, and Joshua Palenshus (Craig); Eleanor and Miles Palenshus (Scot), and KimberLinn and Barrett Butler (Tiffany.) He is also survived by brother Robert (Rhonda) Palenshus, Sister Deborah (Willard) Stamper, brother-in-law Larry (Rhonda) Steiger, and Otto’s surviving wife Arlene Palenshus. Celebration of Life Services will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran in Summerville, SC January 19, 2021 at 1:00 PM with Reverends Andrea and Nathan Rice officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Bucyrus, OH. In lieu of flowers, Ron’s wishes are donations to be made to your local food bank, St. Jude’s Hospital, and/or Habitat for Humanity. Arrangements by PARKS FUNERAL HOME, 130 West 1st North Street, Summerville, SC 29483. www.parksfuneralhome.com.

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