Ron Constable

Ron Constable, age 79, of New Brighton, died peacefully at home on Dec. 9, 2021. "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21).

In 1940, James M. Constable, a Scottish immigrant, took Mary Jane Remington of Pontiac, Michigan as his wife.  The new couple moved to the Chicago area where Jim worked as a movie producer and director with Wilding Studio.  Ron was born in Evanston, Illinois on September 9th, 1942.  The next year little sister, Lea, came along, and in 1947 brother, Johnnie, joined the family.  They eventually settled on the north side of Chicago, in Highland Park, where Ron graduated from high school in 1960.  As a child, Ron went to a boy’s ranch in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, which he quickly grew to love.  Years later this love would influence him to choose CSU in Fort Collins for college, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with the intent to go to medical school.

During these college years, which extended to an additional year and a half of grad school in economics, he had many interests.  He worked summers as a horse wrangler for the boy’s ranch he attended as a kid, participated in amature rodeoing for five years--riding bulls and broncs, which explained some of the back trouble he had throughout his life…that, along with surviving a plane crash while training for a private pilot's license!  He had a country and western band called The Country Gentlemen, which played for various functions in the Ft. Collins vicinity, and he also became very active in campus leadership. But, Ron's life was about to change forever...

The following is an excerpt, in his own words, from a just-found letter in his files (from 1965):

"I knew that something was definitely missing in my life.  There certainly had to be more to living than I was experiencing.  Then, a friend took time to tell me about a person, Jesus Christ, the son of God.  I laughed at first, but as he went on I heard about Christ in a way that was new to me.  It made sense: I prayed and personally received Christ as my Lord and Savior, through faith.  I don't want to sound fanatical, but for the first time in my life I experienced a personal and real relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.  Now, although the Christian experience has its ups and downs, I am experiencing an abundant life, a life filled with power and purpose: power to face the problems of life and a purpose for living and dying.  The result of my Christian experience is that I have found direction--- through the guidance of Christ.  He has transformed me and given me new desires and ambitions."

That October evening in 1961, began Ron's new life in Christ.  During his time at CSU, the Campus Crusade for Christ ministry played a big part in his life.  He gradually began to recognize the change of trajectory for his future, that of vocational ministry, joining the staff of CCC in 1966.

One June evening in 1967, a seemingly ordinary trip to the ice cream machine in the Arrowhead Springs Hotel (CCC's international headquarters at that time), proved to be a divine appointment as he, from Chicago, and she, from Minneapolis, would begin their future together in San Bernardino, California.  Ron married Carol Lundborg the following year on September 7th, 1968.  That began a wonderful 53 year adventure in trusting the Lord together, and sharing the joys of their daughter, Michelle, born in July of '71, and their son, Scott, born in July of '72.  He was always fully committed to his family and they were his priority.

By now they were based in Minnesota.  An independent evangelistic & teaching ministry began on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus, with up to 14 Bible studies a week, and a home church was planted.  Ron's call on his life to teach God's Word was ever deepening, and his love of the Scriptures was cemented as he learned that from the creation account in Genesis to the prophecies of Revelation, the Bible is true...can be trusted...and reveals to us the full counsel of God.  He had an unquenchable fervor for learning God's Truth, and a burden for Christians to be rooted and grounded in the Word and to walk by grace through faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-10).

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, James M. Constable & Mary Jane (Remington) Constable; sister, Marylea Stephenson; infant niece, Brittany Stephenson; and grandchild, baby Perleberg. Survived by wife of 53 years, Carol; children, Michelle (Kelly) Perleberg & Scott (Megan) Constable; grandchildren, Kaleb, Caliana & Hunter Constable; and brother, John (Christine) Constable.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 19th at 1PM with visitation one hour prior at Miller Funeral Home.

Services will be livestreamed on this page.