Ronald Lynn Tracey – Ron, Dad, Grandpa Ron, and Two Dogs to those who loved him – of Amelia Island, Florida and Excelsior, Minnesota died on February 19, 2026 in Jacksonville Florida.

Ron was born in San Francisco, CA on April 15, 1944. His family moved to Denver, Colorado while Ron and his younger brother, Richard “Rick” Tracey, were still quite young and Ron spent his formative years there, graduating from Denver South High. Ron excelled in academics and athletics playing football, baseball, and basketball for the Rebels and earned all-state honors in football and baseball.

After graduating from Dartmouth College with a degree in Psychology, Ron married Sue Ellen Elson (also of Denver and a South High classmate) in 1966 and the two moved to Minneapolis where Ron taught high school science classes for two years. Ron and Sue welcomed two children, Todd Harmon and Tana Lisa into their family before celebrating their fifth anniversary. Ron’s parenting style incorporated both tough love and a shoulder to cry on and he usually applied the correct tool. He loved his children very much and exhibited this through the time he dedicated to imparting life lessons, playing family games, helping with homework, coaching sports teams, and leading outdoor adventures. He was instrumental in the people they are today.

Farming and agriculture were always near to Ron’s heart owing in large part to the summers he spent on his grandfather’s farm as a child. He spent most of his career as a grain merchant, grain broker, and ultimately a pig farmer in Iowa. He loved to be outdoors and was a passionate bird hunter and fisherman. He loved the early mornings, the dogs, the camaraderie, the adventure and the memories and felt closest to God when he was in the wilderness.

Ron struggled with alcohol in the first third of his life, but he found sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous where he has been a member for 45 years. He has been a steadfast advocate and has personally supported over 200 alcoholics on their path to sobriety.

Ron will be missed most by Sue, his wife of 59 years, Todd and his wife, Millicent, their children Olivia and Alexa, Tana and her wife, Katya. He is predeceased by his granddaughter, Lila.

Ron will make one more final hunting trip to Canada where his ashes will be spread in the fields of wheat and barley stubble that the ducks and geese he hunted so like to frequent. If you are so inclined and in lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Ron’s name to Delta Waterfowl (https://deltawaterfowl.org/join-us/donate/).
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OXLEY-HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS