Ronald Ray Taschner, age 84, formerly of St. Louis Park, Minn., passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025, in Edina, Minn., with his three children at his side.
Ron was born September 20, 1941, in Willow Lake to Ray and Mavis (Warner) Taschner. Ron grew up on the family farm, where he learned how to work hard, be resourceful and fix all types of things. He also developed a love of animals on the farm, especially cats and dogs.
At a rollerskating rink in 1958, Ron had a chance meeting with lifelong partner Donna Dugdale of De Smet. Ron graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1959 and married Donna in July 1960. They lived in Flandreau and Sisseton before moving to Bloomington, Minn., in 1963 for work. In 1966, they moved to the family home in St. Louis Park, where they lived for nearly 60 years.
Ron was a career machinist, working at Control Data, Fluidyne, Honeywell, Seagate, Perbix and several smaller machine shops in the Twin Cities. He was skilled at math and could make complex tools and parts from drawings using precision measurements and attention to detail.
Ron enjoyed time with family, friends, neighbors and members of the Peace Church community. He also liked reading the daily newspaper, camping, biking, collecting containers of all types and walking his beloved beagles in Oak Hill Park. Ron could name the make, model, year and color of every vehicle he ever owned. He enjoyed taking road trips. Ron and Donna visited every state in the county during their 62 years together and wintered in Arizona for several years. Pick a city, and Ron could name the interstates and highways that run through it and the best way to get there.
Ron was a storyteller at heart. He loved to hear other people tell storis and always had lots of questions. His stories featured the smallest but important details, frequent tangents and humor, always laughing and trying to make others laugh.
Ron was preceded in death by Donna, his parents and brother Larry. He is survived by daughters Tammy (Randy) Djerf an Teri (Andy) Hyrkas; son Tony (Jenny) Taschner; grandchildren Katie (Ryan) Peterson, Travis (Lindsai) Djerf, Kelly (Ian) Moore, Andy (Cassi) Taschner, Nick (Libby) Taschner, Ben Taschner and Evan and Tyler Hyrkas; great-grandchildren Morgan and Curtis Peterson, Wyatt and Brynn Djerf, Jack Taschner and Zoe Taschner; cousins, nieces and nephews; longtime friends Lyle and Jolene Bohn.
A celebration of Ron's life will be held Saturday, January 10, with visitation at 10:00 A.M., service at 11:00 A.M. an lunch to follow at Gearty Delmore Funeral Chapel, 3960 Wooddale Ave. So., St. Louis Park, Minn. Private inurnment for family at Lakewood Cemetery.
Heartfelt thanks for the loving care provided to Ron and family by the Sunrise of Edina staff. Memorials preferred to the Animal Humane Society or Alzheimer's Association.
