Ronald "Pete" Weddle, 81, Rockford, died in the early morning of July 25, 2013, at his home after a brief illness.

He was born Aug. 15, 1931, at the home in which he lived to Howard Weddle and Lucille Houser Cook and was raised by William and Louella Andrews of Rockford, all of whom preceded him in death.   On Sept. 26, 1959, he married Myra Birt at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater, and she survives in Rockford.

Also surviving are his children, whom he took great pride in, two sons, Randy (Jackie) Weddle of Dayton and Rick (Kae) Weddle of Vandalia; and one daughter, Laura (Michael) Roth of Rockford; two sisters, Marsha Higgens of Union City, Ind. and Lynne Cook of Union City; seven grandchildren, Heather (Weddle) Bontempo of Fort Wayne, Ind., Andy Weddle of Fort Wayne, Ind., Christopher Roth of Fort Wayne, Ind., Ethan Weddle of Vandalia, Amy Roth of Rockford, Hannah Weddle of Vandalia and Kyle Roth of Rockford; a grandson-in-law, Clinton Bontempo; and two great-grandchildren, Cloe and Anthony Bontempo of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Deceased are a grandson; a brother, Frank Weddle; and a brother-in-law, Robert Birt.

He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, and has always lived in Rockford. He loved his Rockford community and his St. Teresa Church family. He traveled everywhere with a smile on his face and hoped that his smile would be contagious to everyone around. He loved young people and really enjoyed his time as a youth advisor.

Pete loved his life and was devoted to his wife and family. He loved to play ball, golf, and fish with his kids and grandkids. He took pride in his home, yard and his wife's flowers. He was a 1949 graduate of Rockford High School, a hard worker on his farm and later extended that love of farming while working at New Idea, Landmark, Oxy, and Ohio Farmers.

He will be greatly missed.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Rockford, the Rev. Ken Alt officiating. Burial will be at Stringtown Cemetery in Rockford.

Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford. A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m. that evening.

Memorials may be given to the Rockford Recreation Association's The Shanes Park Legacy Fund or to the church.     
Condolences may be left at ketchamripley.com.