Ron Mendel

Ronnie Dean "Ron" Mendel, age 74, of Paola, KS, passed away February 24, 2022 at Olathe Medical Center. Ron was born February 11, 1948 in LaCygne, Kansas to Floyd (Jack) and Alta (Clearwater) Mendel. He graduated from LaCygne Rural High School in 1966. On July 13, 1967, he married Carolyn Murphy in Vinita, Oklahoma. Ron and Carolyn met working together at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. The couple lived in Bonner Springs, KS before moving to Paola, where Ron took over the American Family Insurance Agency. He retired in February, 2007 after 31 years of service. Ron served as a reserve for the Miami County Sheriff Department. He was one of the founding members of the Miami County Cancer Foundation, where he remained an active member. Ron enjoyed his family and friends, riding motorcycles, hunting, camping, and wheeling-and-dealing on vehicles. Preceding him in death were his wife, parents, brothers Cliff and Kenneth, sons Jeff and Mike, grandson Derry Flaherty, great-grandson Jordan Flaherty, and in-laws Emmett and Julia Murphy. He is survived by his children: Jim (Dee Anne) Mendel, Paula (Terry) Flaherty; partner, Paulette Bennett; sister, Joan (Delbert) Cornett; sister-in-law, Linda (Larry) Stewart; brother-in-law, Rodger (Cathy) Murphy; grandchildren: Ronnie (Dannae) Flaherty, Bryant Mendel, Katie Gatlin, Jimmy Daniels; great-grandchildren: Gavin, Serinity, Carolynn, Norma, Sarah, Bradley, Brayden, great-great grandson Booker; and many nieces and nephews. Graveside inurnment services will be held at 1pm, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Miami Memorial Gardens, Paola, KS. Memorials are to Miami County Cancer Foundation and can be sent in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary-Crematory, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS, 66071. Family and friends are encouraged to post their memories and condolences on Ron's tribute wall.