Ronald D. Flanders

Ronald D. Flanders, 80, of Haslett, MI, passed away at home on January 20, 2026. Ron was born 10 days after VE Day on May 18, 1945, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina to Elrod and Agnes (Kluthe) Flanders.

As with military families, Ron moved several times during childhood. First, to Chicago's north side, where he and his sister learned to walk blocks away from Wrigley Field, attended Saint Sebastian and Our Lady of Mount Caramel, rode streetcars and watched movies at The Vic Theatre. After a move to Livorno, Italy in 1954, he had an audience with the Pope, climbed the Leaning Tower and the Colosseum like jungle gyms, and traveled extensively in Europe and North Africa.

Upon returning to the U.S., the family settled in Champaign, IL, where Ron soon befriended a group of local hooligans. These boys became lifelong close friends. High school was full of pranks and rebellion; it's a wonder he graduated from Champaign High School in 1964!

After additional travel to southern California, the Caribbean and Europe (and several lessons from the School of Hard Knocks), Ron moved to Alpena, MI to help his extended family. He soon met his future wife, Sara Wilson; they continued to date long distance as Sara attended MSU and Ron served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1968.

Ron and Sara married in Alpena on September 14, 1968, and settled in Lansing. Through the G.I. Bill he earned a BA in Education from Michigan State University (GO GREEN!) and went on to teach with the Lansing School District at Wexford and Cumberland Elementary Schools for 25 years. He was a favorite teacher to many students; they have continued to reach out over the years to thank him and keep in touch.

As teachers, Ron and Sara enjoyed summers off "road tripping" across the western U.S. and Canada. Through friends, they found the Gem of the Huron: Drummond Island. They visited by sailboat, rented, and finally built a cabin in 1984. Ron's greatest moments of peace and happiness were during summers on the island - exploring by van and foot, boating, reading, rockhounding, entertaining friends and teaching his daughter to swim and fish. During the school year, he enjoyed MSU sporting events and tailgates, as well as creative projects, holiday feasts, travel and laughter with close family friends. Ron retired early in 1996, and after a brief stint in Cave Creek, AZ, he and his family returned to the Lansing area.

Ron loved plaid, baseball hats, driving with the windows down, blasting a good Oldies tune, westerns, motorcycles, milkshakes and donuts. He was a human GPS, a speed reader, a trivia buff, a helping hand to those in need, and most of all... a STORYTELLER. He is likely adding additional details to this lengthy obit! Whether you knew him as Ronny, Ronaldo, Reggie, Mr. Flanders, Mr. Ron, or Captain Flando, please keep his stories and adventures alive!

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Elrod and Agnes, and his wife, Sara. He leaves behind his daughter, Krystin; sister, Marilyn; nephew, David (Adriana) Williamson; and sister-in-law, Elaine Bogart.

Special thanks to Austin, Christina, Karen, Katie, Sara, Shelley, Stephen, Burcham Hills CHR staff, and Sparrow Hospital's nursing teams across the ER, Neuro ICU, 9 South and Hospice.

Donations can be made in Ron's memory to the Parkinson's Foundation (www.parkinson.org), National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org), or Reading is Fundamental (www.rif.org).

A belated memorial gathering is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th at Gorsline Runciman, 1730 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing.