Ronald Joseph Vanderschuere, Jr.

Ronald Joseph Vanderschuere Jr., 43, of Cornelius and formerly of La Grande, died unexpectedly Sept. 25 after a motor vehicle accident in Pendleton.

A celebration of his life will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at 34560 SW Johnson School Road in Cornelius. Sign the guestbook online at www.burnsmortuary.com.

Ronald was born Aug. 23, 1967, in Hillsboro. He was raised in Hillsboro and St. Joseph, Mo. He attended Skaith Elementary School in St. Joseph before returning to live in Hillsboro in 1979. Ron graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1985. He attended Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., and was awarded an associate's degree in auto/diesel mechanics.

After graduating from college, Ron worked at Silver Eagle Co. in Portland for nine years. He moved to La Grande in 1996 as an employee of Eagle Freightliner, then Western States Caterpillar. In 2004, he became a self-employed heavy duty diesel technician working throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Ron lived in the Eastern Oregon area until 2007 when he moved to the family farm in Cornelius. At the time of his death, he was the maintenance manager at Gold Hill/R&S Nurseries.

A lifelong hunter and fisherman, Ron spent his life outdoors and was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting for deer, elk, duck and geese. In recent years, Ron enjoyed participating in a Wild West re-enactment group, Turkey Creek Desperadoes. Known as "Dutch Mackenzie," Ron performed in parades and shows throughout the Pacific Northwest.

He is survived by his son, Caleb Vanderschuere of Pendleton; daughter, Ashley Vanderschuere of Newberg; parents, Ronald and Kathleen Vanderschuere of Cornelius; sister, Kelly Vanderschuere Lowry and her family of Hillsboro; and his grandmother, Berteen Jansen of Cornelius.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to a local charity.

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