Ronald H. Dodd passed away on July 31, 2025 at Bettendorf, Iowa.
Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025 at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the services at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Ron was born in Ottawa, Illinois on May 6, 1941 to George and Leone Dodd. He attended Ottawa Public School and Ottawa High School where he was a member of the varsity band and lettered four years on the cross country and track teams. He graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also graduated with a Master of Science degree in Parks and Recreation from the University of Illinois-Champaign.
He married Barbara (Erickson) of Park Ridge, Illinois in 1964 and has two children: Lisa and Eric (Andrea). They have six grandchildren: Brittany, Mackenzie, Jakob (Natalia), Hanna (Ryan), Livia, and Jordan. They also have three great-grandchildren: Alice, Henry, and Gabriel. He is also survived by his brother Dann Dodd of California, two nieces, and two nephews.
He was employed at Skokie Park District, Ottawa Youth Center, Elmhurst Park District, Arlington Heights Park District, Park Ridge Park District, and Dallas (Texas) Park District, and he retired as Executive Director of the Joliet Park District in 2004. His career spanned 40 years in Parks and Recreation. He was actively involved in a wide array of professional organizations and was president/chairman of four of them: the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (1979); American Park and Recreation Society (1989); Great Lakes Regional Council (1981); and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (1992). He was the recipient of the Illinois Robert M. Artz Award and the prestigious National Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal. He taught Park and Recreation Management for the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois as Associate Professor from 1990-2010. He also traveled to China and London to teach and share about parks and administration strategies. He was passionate about his work and career, and loved building communities and improving lives.
Ron loved to build scaled dollhouses for his daughter, granddaughters, and great-granddaughter. He was famous for making his pine cone wreaths for family and friends. He loved spending time with his Pi Sig fraternity brothers and their wives from Luther College and getting together with them many times over the years. He was a Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears fan, loved playing and watching golf, was a member of bowling leagues, loved traveling, and loved spending time with family and friends. He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, Joliet, for over 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents George and Leone Dodd.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the National Parks and Recreation Association (22377 Belmont Ridge Rd, Ashburn, VA 20148), Illinois Parks and Recreation Association (536 East Ave, La Grange, IL 60525), Luther College (700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101), or University of St. Francis (500 Wilcox St, Joliet, IL 60435).
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433.
Ron was laid to rest in the Garden of The Last Supper at Oakwood Memorial Park.