On March 18, Dad was finally released from the prison of Alzheimer’s Disease to join his beloved wife Diane.

Ron Samuelson was born on Nov. 29, 1950 to Charles and Arlene Samuelson in Caldwell, Idaho. Shortly after his birth, the family made their way to Humboldt County, settling in Garberville, then Rio Dell. Ron spent his childhood hunting, fishing and swimming in the Eel River. His love for the outdoors remained with him throughout his life, and would eventually take him to the far corners of the globe. His hunting boots left their size 12 triple-A prints on the steppes of Mongolia, the mountains of Spain and Azerbaijan, the snow of the Yukon Territory, the Australian Outback and countless other places.

Dad was blessed by an immunity to poison oak, a gift that served him well for a life lived outdoors. He did, however, manage to get it one time as a boy. In the redwoods behind his Rio Dell home dad and his buddy Mark Siipola spent a day playing Tarzan on giant poison oak vines. They came home covered in black sap from head to toe. The next week wasn’t pretty.

Dad worked his first season for CDF in 1968. Hired by Harry Pritchard as a skinny 17-year-old kid barely out of high school, Dad would rise through the ranks to retire as a battalion chief nearly forty years later. Dad loved everything about fighting fires. He loved sleeping in the dirt, eating smoke and drinking warm water from the canteen on his belt. If the women in his life would have tolerated it he probably would not have worn anything but Nomex and White’s boots.

In 1972, Dad married into the Barnwell family, pioneers of Humboldt County. His marriage to Rindy would last for three decades, and would give him a son, Ryan, and two daughters, Robyn and Ren. In 1976, months before the birth of their first child, dad chose to set aside his position as a fire captain in Riverside and become a partner in Chalk Mountain Ranch. In choosing to raise his family in that rambling old house perched above the Van Duzen river valley, he gave us a childhood that was both beautiful and rare, filled with both hard work and exceptional freedom.

While dad put his blood and sweat into the ranch, his heart remained at the fire station. He might have told you that he went back to work for CDF because we needed the money. Cattle and timber prices at the time did make it hard to raise a ranch family, but the truth is he missed the smell of smoke and diesel, the long haul strike team drives, and the fellowship of his brothers and sisters in the fire service. In the early 80s he accepted a position as captain at the Bridgeville CDF station, a job he held for many years before moving on to other duties.

With summer consumed by fire, winter was when dad loved to play. He had a passion for skiing that started early. In high school he would find his way to horse mountain with his buddies Mark Siipola, Joe Flochini and Bill Christen. Rindy shared his love for skiing, and they spent many happy days on the mountain. Dad loved to watch his daughter Ren on a pair of skis. Fearless, she had no need to learn how to turn or slow down. A helmet soon became mandatory ski wear.

As the youngest of their children reached adulthood Ron and Rindy found that it was time to follow their own paths. While the divorce marked the end of one era of his life, it also signified the beginning of another. The last decade of Dad’s life was filled with adventure. His great friends Mark Megazzi and Kevin O’Neil hunted with him, skiied, golfed and fished in places most of us will never see.

Dad’s final years were also filled with unexpected love. It is hard to imagine a more unlikely match than Dad and Diane. First of all, she was a Democrat. On paper they were polar opposites, but in life they fit together perfectly. Generations of Ferndale kids remember her as their kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Cook. A woman of depth, kindness, creativity and perseverance, she had the ability to find joy in a life that presented more than its share of difficulty.

Diane brought an appreciation for music and art to Ron’s life that had been sorely lacking. While their years together were short, they were filled with travel, family and laughter. Kauai held a special place in their hearts, and they returned there as often as they were able.

Diane was a blessing not just to Ron, but to the rest of his family as well. Without hesitation she embraced his children and grandchildren as her own. The warmth of her kindness and love enriched the lives of every member of the blended family she created with Ron.

Cancer stole Diane away from Ron on the 31st of January, 2016. With her death Ron began the final chapter of his life. He spent his last year in his own home, surrounded by family. He died peacefully under his own roof, in a room filled with pictures and memories of his extraordinary life.

Even as he lost his own powers of speech he loved to be in the center of a crowded kitchen filled with teenagers, dogs and toddlers. As his Alzheimer’s progressed there were fewer and fewer things that could make Dad smile. Always with a special place in his heart for babies, the sight of his infant granddaughter Riot or his little grandson Otto never failed to make him grin. He also had a special relationship with a yellow lab named Louise who still can’t figure out where grandpa went, and tried to bite the man who came to pick up his empty hospital bed.

Ron was preceded in death by his older brother Craig, his parents Charles and Arlene, and his wife Diane. He is survived by his ex-wife Rindy, his sister Linda, his son Ryan and wife Robbin, daughter Robyn and partner Wade, daughter Ren and husband Kris, stepson Kai and partner Lauren, and stepdaughter Kalista and husband Gregg. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Riot, Philo, Geneva, Alex, Brittaney, Brandy (Nat), Gloria, Sage, Peyton, Taryn, Otto, Nathan, Ethan and Sienna, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Ron’s family would also like to extend their gratitude to Yvonne for her exceptional care and service during his final year. You didn’t just care for Dad, you cared for all of us, and we are forever in your debt.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held on Friday, April 7 at 2 p.m. at the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department. Members of the fire service, EMS and law enforcement are welcome to attend in uniform. In lieu of cards or flowers the family requests that donations in Ron’s name be made to local volunteer fire departments or the CalFire Honor Guard.

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The obituary above was submitted by Ron Samuelson’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.