Ronald "Ron" Steenbeke

Ronald “Ron” Steenbeke, 60, of Buchanan, MI unexpectedly passed at his home on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. He was born on October 17, 1965, to John and Linda (Micinski) Steenbeke. He met Lisa (Anderson) Gerndt in 2014 through mutual friends, and the two were married in 2020.

Lisa survives along with their children Aaron (Kimberlee) Steenbeke of Granger, Ashley (James) Hurstel of South Bend, Austin Steenbeke of Mishawaka, Holly (Benjamin) Musick of North Port, FL, Jeromy (Elizabeth) Gerndt of South Bend, Jared (Katie) Gerndt of Elkhart, and Jacob (Haley) Gerndt of Mishawaka, 12 grandchildren, Jenna, A.J., Hunter, Lexi, Cayden, Cameron, Akiya, Brantley, Lily, Laila, Wesley, Elijah, and two grandbabies on the way. Ron’s mother, Linda, and siblings Curt (Jodi) of Munith, MI, Matthew (Carol) of South Bend, and Karin (John) Lanning of Mishawaka also survive. He was preceded in death by his father, John, and grandparents Lionel (Delphine) Micinski and Arthur (Augusta) Steenbeke.

Ron lived a full and generous life, grounded in hard work, he was the proud owner and operator of Thermal Plus HVAC in Buchanan, where he found genuine joy in his work and built lasting relationships as a longtime member of his local BNI. When he wasn’t working, Ron’s world revolved around his family and his beloved dogs, Sally and Lucy. Ron loved the open road on his Harley-Davidson and cherished trips shared with those closest to him. Known for his love of good coffee and roasting his own beans, Ron had a well-stocked snack stash, and an undeniable fondness for shoes. He found joy in cooking and grilling and was known for his homemade spaghetti sauce made from scratch. Above all, Ron was a generous soul, always willing to help however he could, and his kindness and presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A time to celebrate his life and visit with family and friends is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, from 4-8pm at Michiana Community Church in Granger, with a formal service on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, at 11am, with an hour of visitation starting at 10am. Cremation will take place following the service.

In memory of Ron, memorial contributions may be sent to the organization of the donor’s choice. To light a virtual candle, share a story of Ron’s life, or extend a message of comfort to his family, please visit the Guestbook.