Ronald Lee Michaelis

Ronald Lee Michaelis passed into the care of our Lord on Monday, August 17, 2026, in Chico, California at the age of 88. Ron was born in Porterville, California on March 23, 1938, to Martin and Bonita Michaelis. He dedicated much of his life to citrus farming in Porterville until he retired in 1997. After retirement, he merged his farming operation with the Limoneira Company and spent 20 years on the Limoneira Board. He moved to Red Bluff, California to be closer to his children in 2011. Ron was a dedicated father to his five children and a devoted husband of 66 years.

Ron attended Porterville High School where he was part of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). After High School he won the American Farmer Degree. Ron attended Porterville College and went on to attend La Verne and California State Polytechnic University Pomona majoring in fruit production. Ron and Dorothy first met while attending La Verne College.

Ron farmed in the citrus industry for 50 years and managed the family citrus properties for 30 years. Those properties grew from 20 acres to 1500 acres. He also owned Michaelis Citrus Nursery, Inc., producing up to 300,000 trees annually making it the second largest citrus nursery in the state of California. He served as the director and president of the many citrus organizations and was a Trustee of the Limoneira Foundation.

Besides love for farming, he was a very passionate Los Angeles Dodgers fan. All three sons shared in his passion for baseball.

Ron and his wife, Dorothy, were literally world travelers. In 2007 they took a cruise around the world lasting over three months. Prior to this, they took many other cruises. When their children were young, they took them to many places including Europe and Asia. Later in life, they took their adult children and grandchildren on several family cruises.

Ron was a very active member of Grand Avenue United Methodist church in Porterville for 73 years. Throughout Ron’s life, he served on numerous church boards and church positions. When Ron moved to Red Bluff, he was a regular attender of Presbyterian Church Red Bluff for 10 years and was currently regularly attending First Church of God Red Bluff.

Ron is survived by his wife Dorothy Michaelis; children Mark Michaelis (Margarita), Beth Meyer (Paul) and Pati Dowd (Eric); grandchildren Carl Meyer-Curtis, Karyn Meyer, Christopher Michaelis, Jack Meyer, Brandon Michaelis, Taylor Michaelis, Koda Michaelis, Trevor Michaelis, Kyra Michaelis, Avery Michaelis, and one greatgrandchild, Elsie Michaelis. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his sister JoAnn Manlapig, children Jeff and Dean Michaelis and granddaughter Mikayla Meyer.

A viewing will be held at the Hoyt-Cole Chapel of Flowers, 816 Walnut Street, Red Bluff, California, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Church of God Red Bluff, 1005 South Jackson Street, Red Bluff, California. Following the service there will be lunch served at the church. In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to mail donations to the Red Bluff Rotary at PO Box 507, Red Bluff, CA 96080 and Porterville FFA at 465 W Olive Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257, Attn: Jessica Helm.