Ronald L. Rech

Ronald Lee Rech, age 87 of Diamondhead, MS, went to heaven on May 16, 2025, very suddenly following a brief illness.

Ronald was born in a farmhouse near Dwight, Nebraska, on October 25, 1937, and grew up on a farm near David City, NE. He helped his parents farming until he went on to college.

He attended an elementary country school and graduated from Marietta High School in 1955, excelling academically and athletically where he participated in five sports. He attended one year of college at St. Benedicts College in Atchison, KS before transferring to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, NE. There he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1959.

He served as a proud veteran of the Nebraska Air National Guard for six years and was stationed at Lincoln, NE.

His professional career started in 1960 with International Business Machines Corporation in Omaha, NE, and then moved on to Rockford, IL, to Chicago, IL, to Los Angeles, CA, to San Jose, CA and ended with IBM when he retired in 1993. Many of his last years with IBM were spent as a Technical Support Representative that took him to many European countries, installing new software and providing education classes.

After IBM, he joined Prism, Inc., a startup software company, as the Director of Product Education for two years. He was then hired by D2K, Inc., another startup software company, as the Director of Quality Control and Customer Service for two years.

He and his wife, Judy Rawls Rech moved to Sedona, AZ in 1998. While living in Sedona, he served as a voluntary deputy sheriff for Yavapai County, AZ.

Then on to Diamondhead, MS from Sedona, AZ in 2002 as to enjoy the Gulf Coast. He spent six years deeply involved with Diamondhead becoming a city in 2012, and was appointed to the first city Council for two years and was elected for four more years.

Ronald loved golf, hunting, fishing, woodworking and traveling with his wife in their motorhome or on cruises. His spirit shone through his involvement in various social activities. He was crowned the Boaters King of Kamemeha in 2016 and served on the Boaters Krewe Board of Directors for ten years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Phoebe Rech; his grandparents, and his loving wife, Judy Rawls Rech.

Ron’s memories will be cherished by his daughters, Avital Rech and her wife, Liat Hoffman and Renee Rech and her husband, Matt David; his brother, Kenneth Rech and his wife, Carolyn; his sisters, Donna Kuhnel and her husband, Greg, Joyce Napier and her husband Lowell, and Vicki Truska and her husband, Jim; and his four grandchildren, David Shlomo Ellis-Rech, Yosef Ellis-Rech, Elianna Ellis-Rech and Ari Hoffman-Rech.

Today, we say goodbye to Ronald Lee Rech, a man whose journey touched the lives of many. As we mourn his passing, let us remember the joy he brought to our lives, the memories we shared, and the lessons he taught us through his dedication to family, work and community. May his soul find eternal peace while his spirit lives on in our hearts forever.

A visitation for family and friends will be from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 1:00 pm. Interment will be held at a later date at the Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona, AZ.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Pass Christian, is serving the family. An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com .

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me now, I’m free. I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call. I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found that peace at close of day.

If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full; I’ve savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, don’t lengthen it now with undone grief.

Lift up your hearts and share with me, for God wanted me now. He set me free.