Ronald Thureen

Ronald D.C. Thureen, 89, Two Harbors, died Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth.

Ron was born April 9, 1933 to Carl J. and Marie J. (Stordahl) Thureen in Duluth, where he grew up, attending Congdon Elementary, East Middle, and Central High School. After earning an Associate’s Degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, he served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War.

His professional career included management at International Harvester, Economy Motors, Modern Distributors, Reach All, and the St. Louis County Assessor's Office and Highway Department. He was a member of the Administrative Management Society and the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers.

Outside work, Ron kept a busy schedule of personal interests ranging from activities with organizations such as the Frigid Frogs Duluth Divers' Club, the Duluth Playhouse, and the Duluth Opera; to community and public service as volunteer with the Clifton Fire Department, and as Duluth Township Board Supervisor and Justice of the Peace.

Asked of standout memories from childhood, without pause he recalled the simple pastime of standing on Lake Superior’s North Shore skipping rocks. Lake Superior would become his enduring passion, a life-long fascination - endlessly enchanted with her history, her mystery, the legends and tales of the mighty vessels which traversed her waters, and those which fell victim to her tempest and met their fate in her depths. An avid boater and scuba diver, he engaged in frequent dives of Lake Superior's shipwreck sites.

He enjoyed capturing his love of Northern Minnesota's natural beauty in his photography, and sharing his perspective in multi-media presentations for a variety of institutions. So as never to be too far from the water, he built two homes on Lake Superior's North Shore with unobstructed views to the horizon. From his vantage point, he kept watch of lake traffic, and found daily contentment observing her ever-changing shades, hues, and moods. He never tired of his view.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Carroll (Alyce) Thureen; and his wife, (Grace) Louise in October 2021. He is survived by his children, Karen (Pat) Knight, Ronald Thureen II, Kris (Jeff) Hintz, and Scott (Başar) Thureen; and their mother, Adrienne Thureen; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and Louise’s family.

Ron's family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff, nurses, and doctors of St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, and Lakeview Hospital and Waterview Shores in Two Harbors for their gracious care.

At the time of Ron’s passing, throughout the city echoed the familiar blast from Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge in the prescribed farewell salute to one of Lake Superior’s grand ships as she set course for the horizon on her next great voyage. Fair winds and following seas, Dad.