Ronald O. Underhill

Ronald Underhill, 92, passed away peacefully at home in his sleep on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Ron was the son of Leo Underhill and Ruth (Holcomb) Bascom Underhill Stratton. A proud Korean War veteran, Ron served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1955. While stationed aboard the battleship U.S.S. Iowa as a Boiler Operator, Ron visited Korea, Japan, and Hawaii, and traversed the Panama Canal. It was at the end of his Navy career while stationed in Philadelphia, PA that he met his soon-to-be wife, Dorothy. After his discharge from the Navy, Ron and Dorothy moved back to Michigan, where he moved from laborer to foreman as he worked with several local plumbing companies in the greater Lansing and Jackson area. Most notably, he was the plumbing foreman for the construction of the Meridian Mall and the Meridian Water Plant in Okemos, MI. In 1973, as a master plumber, Ron went into private business, owning and operating Underhill Plumbing and Heating, a one-man company that served commercial and industrial clients such as the Lansing State Journal, Michigan State University, Jet Die Engineering, and Dansville Public Schools. Ron retired in 1995 after 22 years in business.

A devoted family man, Ron enjoyed golfing, bowling, traveling, summers spent at the family’s cottage on Houghton Lake, and helping his friends and family with plumbing and construction projects of all kinds. He was a long-time member of the Mason Lions Club and the Lansing Construction Golf League.

Ron’s ashes will be interred in the Columbarium at the United Methodist Church of Mason, MI, next to his wife of 65 years, Dorothy (Reinas), who preceded him in death in 2019, as did his siblings Warren Bascom, Dick Underhill, Iris Hughes, Joyce Barrett, and Pegge Kaslaski. He will be lovingly remembered by his sons David (Peggy) and Todd (Susan) Underhill, sister Nancy Zalewski, niece Ruth Zalewski, and grandchildren Breana (Eli) Rozbicki, Mathew Underhill and Theodore (Jackie) Craft. A memorial will take place in the spring.

In honor of Ron’s service to the industry, memorial contributions may be made to the UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 333 Training Center, 16180 National Pkwy, Lansing, MI 48906. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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