Ronald Ron Ott

Ronald L Ott died on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Boutwells Landing in Oak Park Heights, MN of Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born June 4, 1935, in Fort Atkinson, WI, the son of Arthur and Esther Ott. He was baptized and confirmed at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson WI. He graduated from high school in 1953 . He attended the University of Wisconsin, and the Institute of Paper Chemistry (IPC) in Appleton, WI where he earned his Ph. D.

After graduating from IPC, Ron joined 3M where his family knew him as a doctor of sandpaper chemistry. Ron and Linda were married on February 14, 1970, at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA.

Ron loved travelling and exploring the world with Linda. They spent Januarys on world circling adventures away from the Minnesota cold. They also spent many Julys in the Swiss Alps hiking and enjoying God’s creation. Ron also loved fishing and made annual trips to Venezuela and Alaska for many years . And there was always time to attend Jazz concerts. Family dinners were blessed with his wonderful cooking skills and self-caught, salmon frozen and shipped back from Alaska. Ron and Linda’s dinners were always thought out far in advance to make the visit and guests feel so honored and special, often sharing new specialties experienced on their travels.

Ron was always very concerned about his family’s safety on the road and ensuring more than enough time was allowed for trips to the airport. Ron’s question would be, “Well then?” implying “Isn’t it time to be on the road?”

Ron and Linda also sponsored the education of children from the Philippines and Thailand.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Janet Rumlow, his nephew, Keith Rumlow and brother-in-law Kenneth Forde. Ron is survived by his wife Linda of 56 years, brother-in-law Norman(Karen) Forde and sister-in-law, Jean Forde; his nephews Todd (Lisa) and Mark (Claudia) Rumlow, Eric (Alyssa), Keith (Jody), and Kurt (Jamie) Forde and his niece Lois (Philip) Kohler, and great nieces and nephews, Zachary, Genevieve, Grant, Lauren and Grace Rumlow, Sam, Caleb, Levi, Cody, Parker, Jayden, and Avery Forde, Katey (Forde) Lamkin, Rachel and Forde Kohler

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to donors’ choice or Second Harvest Food Bank.