Ronald William Wanner

Lt. Col. Ronald W. Wanner, USAF, RET, 75, of Dunbarton, died January 30, 2016 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He passed away peacefully surrounded by those he loved while his wife of 54 years held his hand.

Ron was born March 1940 in New Jersey, the son of the late William F. Wanner and Olive (Tremper) Wanner. Ron met the love of his life Barbara while in school in New Jersey. They married in 1961 and followed Ron's dream to fly when he entered the Air Force in 1960. Ron was rated as both a radar navigator and pilot. He flew on B-52's during the Cold War era, C-54's in the arctic along the DEW Line (Distant Early Warning) followed by a tour in Saudi Arabia with the US Military Training Mission. Ron flew the C-5 aircraft in and out of Vietnam and worldwide until his assignment to NH. Ron was the proud recipient of many awards, ribbons and medals for his Air Force service.

They raised four children during Ron's career in the Air Force and were stationed in many states from Texas to New Hampshire. Over the years Ron taught his children to love the culture and sights each new base provided them. Ron and Barb made their last move in the Air Force in 1981 when they came to Dunbarton. Ron served five years as a liaison for Search and Rescue for the Civil Air Patrol and NH Civil Defense in Concord until he retired in 1986. Ron was a member of several flying organizations and service groups including the Deadalians, QB's, Bow Men's Service Club and American Legion. Not one to sit still Ron started another career working for the state of New Hampshire ending his career as Administrator for the NH Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics when he retired in 2005.

Ron graduated with a BS in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey, Summa Cum Laude, an MBA from Plymouth State University and a graduate of the USAF Squadron Officers School, the USAF Undergraduate Navigator Program, the USAF Undergraduate Pilot Program, and the US Army Command & General Staff College.

Ron was very involved in Dunbarton politics and organizations. He was a member of the American Legion Post 116 headquartered in Dunbarton. He considered it an honor to place flags on veterans graves in Dunbarton cemeteries and to share knowledge and understanding of the military with elementary school children. Ron was a member of the board of selectmen for Dunbarton. Those that served with him admired the respect and dignity he gave everyone.

Not only did Ron and Barb share a life and children together they shared a very strong faith. They have been members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Concord since 1981 when they moved to New Hampshire. Ron has served on the Vestry and as Junior and Senior Warden. Ron was also chairman of the Commission on Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. From the time Ron retired in 2005 until his cancer diagnosis in December of 2014 he made weekly trips to the NH Food Bank and quarterly pickups of USDA food for the St. Paul's food pantry.

Ron had many great loves in life; his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his Dalmatians and the hobby he loves best, golfing. Ron had the opportunity to golf at many golf courses around the world as well as playing on many teams locally. He enjoyed spending a portion of nice days from early spring to late fall on the golf course.

For the past 12 years Ron has been very active in fundraising to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. One of Ron's beloved grandchildren, Austin Wanner, suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. Ron along with his son Scott run Austin's Snowmobile Ride in Colebrook, NH every February to benefit the NH Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Members of his family include his wife of 54 years Barbara (Kohout) Wanner of Dunbarton, his children Kim Bonenfant and her husband Rick, Kelly Bolton and her husband Rob, Lt. Col. Rob Wanner, USAF and his wife Traci, Scott Wanner, his grandchildren Chris and his wife Isabel, Drew, Taylor, Samantha, Natasha, Veronica, Blaine, Alex, Justin and his mother Kelli, Austin and his mother Susan and his great-granddaughter Breleigh, his brother Kenneth Wanner and sister in law Mary, his sister Joan Wemitt and brother in law Pat, his nephews Eric and Jason Wemitt, a very close family friend Brian Pike and his wife Tracey and his beloved dogs.

The family would like to recognize the amazing staffs and Doctors who Ron saw. Dr. Crow and the staff at NH Oncology and Dr. Falk and the 4th floor staff at Concord Hospital in Concord NH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. All of you gave Ron and his family the most compassionate and wonderful care during his illness. We are eternally grateful.

Calling hours will be held at the Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord, NH on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2015 at 10:30 am at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 21 Centre Street, Concord, NH, immediately followed by a reception at the church. After the reception, family will meet at 2:00 pm at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Route 3, Boscawen, NH., for burial with full military honors.

Per Ron’s request that money not be spent on flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ron’s memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Nashua New Hampshire, 114 Perimeter Road, Units G & H, Nashua NH 03063 or the St. Paul's Food Pantry, St Paul's Episcopal Church, 21 Centre Street, Concord NH 03301.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Bennett Funeral Home of Concord.