Ron Garrelts

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Ronald Eugene Garrelts at the age of 83. Ronald was a native son of Cozad, Nebraska, the second of two children born to Ervin and Alice Garrelts (Maack), spending many of his formative days at the family farm in Cozad and also with his grandparents, Hannah and Jurgen Garrelts, in Gothenburg, Nebraska. He graduated from Cozad High School in 1961 and shortly thereafter enlisted in the United States Navy, where he spent four years as an aircraft mechanic while stationed in Monterey, California. During his enlistment, he met Dorothy Bruggerman, his wife of the next 25 years. In 1970, he and his family relocated to Susanville, California, where he opened one of the first automotive repair shops specializing in German automobiles in Lassen County. Later in his professional life, he turned to his love of photography and the world of fine arts. He opened his own gallery in historic uptown Susanville. Sudden Images studio served not only his own need for a creative outlet but showcased many artists from the Sierra Cascade region. He truly enjoyed highlighting the many varied artists of Northern California. Ron will be remembered and missed by his family and friends for his wry sense of humor, sense of adventure and love of nature, from which he drew much of his artistic inspiration, and his generosity to his family and friends. He is survived by his children, Todd Garrelts and family, his daughter Wendy Langenhorst and family, as well as his sister Sharlyn Hurst and family, and brother Gene Maack and family, and many other nieces and nephews, and friends. We love you.