Ronald VanHouten
Ronald VanHouten, age 83, passed away, Saturday, December 7, 2024 after navigating a long illness with a great attitude and much courage. Born February 5, 1941 in Wyandotte, Michigan, the son of Clarence I. and Margaret (Peggie) VanHouten. He was a 1959 graduate of Flat Rock High School.
He married Lillian Allen, October 6, 1962 in Monroe and shared 62 years of happiness together. They moved to Howell in 1970 and have resided in Iosco Township since, raising their family.
Ron started his nurseryman career as a fourteen-year-old hoeing trees. His career spanned over sixty years as a corporate operational manager for Huron Sod Farms, then Cottage Gardens Nursery, Lansing Branch, prior to opening his local operation, VanHouten Nursery and Landscaping, Inc. He prided in growing and planting quality nursery stock. His knowledge of trees was amazing and he could identify them from half mile away.
Ron was well known for his community involvement serving as chair of the Iosco Township Zoning Board of Appeals and Township Planning Commission, as well as a member of the County Planning Commission for 25 years. He was elected and served as a Livingston Commissioner for ten years being known as a man of reason, intelligence and man of his word.
Ron loved his family and friends and was known to delight them with his serious and comical stories from real life experiences.
Throughout the years Ron enjoyed raising pigeons, goats, peafowl, domestic geese and always a flock of chickens.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian; son, Scott VanHouten; daughter, Dawn (John) Ducett; granddaughters, Natasha Ducett; Chevelle (Dustin) Kuhfeldt; great grandsons, Farley Ducett, Johnny Bartos, Kolt and Levi Kuhfeldt.
Visitation was being held Sunday, December 15, 2024, from 2 to 6 pm and a Funeral Service, Monday December 16, 2024, at 11 am with an hour of visitation beginning at 10 am, officiated by Reverend Kevin Pierpont at MacDonald’s Chapel, 315 N. Michigan Avenue, Howell.
The family has asked for those wishing to remember him with a donation please do so by contributing to the “Howell Garden Club Youth Horticultural Scholarship Fund”. Donations can be made out to "Howell Garden Club" and mailed to Mary McIsaac, 4010 Southwood Drive, Howell, MI 48843.
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