Ronald Isgrig

Ronald Lynn Isgrig of Desloge, Missouri departed this life on April 30, 2009 at the Barnes Jewish Hospital having reached the age of thirty eight years, nine months and one day. He was born on July 29, 1970 a son to Alta Dodd.
Ronnie loved to talk. He could even talk your leg off if you had a leg left from your last conversation with him. The thing is, he talked about things that we loved to hear. His crafty grin and the light in his eyes always made his stories fun. He always had a funny twist to add to his stories and they were mostly true. We will miss the sound of his voice and the great times we had talking and listening.
Ron had a beautiful voice. When he was a youngster, he dreamed of a career as a country western singer in Nashville. That never happened, but his friends and family were sometimes treated to an impromptu rendition of a gospel or a popular song depending on his mood.
Ronnie had a few hobbies. One is collecting sports memorabilia. He has been able to collect autographed pictures, baseballs, jerseys, bats etc. Two of his favorite collections were of Albert Pujols and Kurt Warner. But, you name it and he probably had it. He also loved to play Texas Hold ?Em, which is a kind of poker for those of you who don?t know. He was really good at knowing how to bet and knowing who had what. Sometimes he would act like he didn?t know it was his turn to play just so he had more time to think about what to do. He was an ultimate card shark. He frequently had friends over to play cards with him. He enjoyed having those card games. They have made his last few years so much richer. (in experience, not money)
Ronnie was very generous and has been happy to give, help financially and otherwise to people who had a real need. Most of the time, he gave the help anonymously because he knew the credit belonged to God and not to him. He was not only generous with finances, he was generous with his time. He was a good listener and would allow his friends to tell him anything and they knew he could be trusted to keep it to himself.
He loved his son Pierce very much. Ronnie was so proud of Pierce and looked forward to his visits. Pierce was 11 when he first visited from Germany, although they had visited by phone since Pierce was a tiny tot. Ronnie helped to interpret English for him and it didn?t take Pierce long to learn his second language. He has his dads good looks, charm, wit and is a fun kid. Ronnie especially enjoyed this past Christmas because he got to spend it with Pierce.
Ronnie also loved his beautiful nieces Candace and Chelsea. He felt as if they were more like his own kids than they were his nieces. They have always had a truly special relationship and he had been so proud to help with their up-bringing. Ronnie and his brother Donnie were very close. When they were growing up we may not have thought they would be good friends when they were men, but the truth is they became much better friends as the years passed. Ronnie loved his cousin Corey like a younger brother. In fact, he said just the other night that Corey was always his little brother. In the last couple of years he got very close to his cousin Michael and was so glad to have Michael as a good friend. All of Ronnie?s family were very important to him, most of all his mom. He depended on Alta for so much and he loved her for being the wonderful mother she is.
Above all, Ronnie loved the Lord. He spent the last eleven years in depth Bible study and made special arrangements to be baptized in a way that would accommodate his disability. Because he is a child of God, we know that he is with him. As Paul said, ?To be absent from the body means you are present with the Lord.? Not only do we have the comfort and assurance that Ronnie is now with the Lord, we know that his body is healed and we are so thankful to God for this. Although we are sad to be away from Ronnie right now, we are also happy knowing that we will be with him again. What a comfort that is.
Ronnie was preceded in death by grandparent Gladys and Guy Isgrig and Tom and Mae Ives.
Those who remain to mourn the passing of his life are his mother Alt Dodd and step father Jim Dodd of Desloge; son Pierce Len Sc?Henk of Germany; brother Donald Glen Isgrig of Potosi; two nieces Candace and Chelsea Isgrig; many other relatives and friends who will sadly miss him.
Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 1 PM at the DeClue Family Chapel with Rev. H. Wayne Isgriggs officiating. Serving as pallbearers were Corey Lech, Russell Lech, Keri Klein, Gene Nabors, Michael Dodd and Bob Payne Honorary pallbearers were Glen Sutton and Scott Dennis.
Interment and final prayers were held at the Liberty Baptist Cemetery. All arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the DeClue Funeral Home.