Ronald Allen DellaCroce passed away far too young on October 17, 2020 in Steamboat Springs, CO surrounded by the love of his wife, cousins and friends. He was diagnosed in late June with NUT carcinoma-a very rare and aggressive cancer. Although his fight was short, he faced it with strength, faith and a positive attitude. His loving, devoted wife was with him every step of the way.

Ron was born June 20, 1963 in Colorado Springs, CO to Ronald and Marjorie DellaCroce. The family moved to Emmetsburg, IA when he was in 3 ^rd grade. This is when Ron first met a farm girl, Annette Banwart.  They started dating in 9 ^th grade, married eleven years later on May 26, 1990 and celebrated their 30 ^th wedding anniversary this year. They were best friends and soul mates and enjoyed a wonderful, blessed life together in Steamboat Springs. Ron loved everything outdoors including skiing, fly fishing, motorcycling, river rafting, hunting and traveling. He and Annette enjoyed many adventures together.

Ron graduated from Emmetsburg High School and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. His dream was to live in the Colorado mountains and be a park ranger. He moved to the Yampa Valley in 1989 and started as a temp employee with Colorado State Parks at Steamboat Lake and Stagecoach. In 1992, he became a full time ranger and attended the Southern Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy in Trinidad, CO. After graduation from the academy, he served as a ranger at State Forest State Park near Walden. He was promoted to Senior Ranger at Yampa River State Park by Hayden and then Park Manager. Ron earned numerous certifications during his career and became a trainer, educator and mentor in many areas including firearms and snowmobiling. Over the years, many people called him "Ranger Ron" and he retired from this career in June 2016.

His passion for skiing led him to the ski area where he was a Mountain Host in the early 1990's and then started volunteering as a Ski Patroller in the late 2000's. In 2016, he became a full time Ski Patroller and loved the opportunity to ski 80+ days a year. He was proud and honored to put on the red jacket with the white cross and be part of the ski patrol family. Ron followed the patrol motto of "Take care of yourselves, take care of each other, take care of them."

Ron leaves behind his loving wife, Annette, his parents Ron & Marge of Colorado Springs, sister Beverly (Wayne) Schmidt of Colorado Springs and brother Allen (Mary) DellaCroce of Keystone Heights, Florida. He also leaves his mother-in-law Irene Banwart-Goff of Emmetsburg, IA and sisters-in-law Joyce (Mike) Wiggins of Hawarden, IA and Deb (Jeff) Childs of Eagan, MN. Ron was always considered the "cool uncle" to his six nephews and two nieces. He will also be greatly missed by his aunts, uncles, cousins, Colorado State Park and Ski Corp. families, friends, neighbors and especially his "Brothers of the Fly".

A celebration of life service will be held Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 1 p.m.at the Meadows Parking lot in Steamboat Springs at the corner of Mt. Werner and Pine Grove Roads. A private interment will be held at the Steamboat Springs Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made directly to Northwest Colorado Health Hospice or the Routt County Humane Society.