Ronald Thomas Grubb, age 76, of Rockford, Illinois passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026. He was born March 23, 1950 in Oregon, Illinois to Glade and Lorraine (Moore) Grubb. Ron graduated from Rockford East High School in 1969 and went on to earn his Associates in Arts, Police Science, and Fire Science at Rock Valley College. He served as a patrolman in Polo, Illinois and as a police officer/firefighter in Barrow, Alaska for 6 months. He served as a police officer at RVC for 21 years, worked at Ingersoll Milling Machine Company in the Security and Safety Department for 15 years, and taught emergency First Aid/CPR for the American Red Cross for 20 years. He worked for the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department part-time for several years and the Court Services for 8 years as Bailiff and one year as Deputy Sheriff. Ron worked at Walmart for one year after which he retired.
He led the Ronald Thomas Orchestra for 14 years. He loved camping and hiking, he hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail. He loved all of his cats and dogs. Ron loved his church and the community he found at City First.
Ron is survived by his siblings, Dixie Beckett, Sheila (Lowin) Ray-Dinwiddie, and James (Linda) Ray Jr.; niece, Lori (Troy) Carlson; nephews, Brian Evans, Derrick Beanland, Anthony Stark, and Jared Stark; great-nieces, Kayla Carlson and Kaitlyn Evans; great-nephew, Tristan Carlson; adopted daughter, Julie Ann Franzen; and godchildren, Carmen Craig, Cheyenne Martin, Amanda Follman, Brianna Follman, Mikayla Lewis, Brooklyn Lewis, Mackenzie Casey, Brooke Lindskog, Destiny Huggins, Brody (Zoey) Lindskog, Brandon Lindskog, Chelsey Watson, Kirsten LaVelle and Alexandra LaVella.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Glade and Lorraine Grubb; father, James Ray Sr.; mother, Marian Staffy; uncles, Gene Marks and Bob Long; and niece, Jamie Evans.
A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Tuesday, November 10 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N Alpine Rd, Machesney Park, IL 61115 with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 pm and then inurnment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
