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Ronald Charles Gater was born Feb. 24, 1945, to Morris and Betty Gater in in Alexandria, Louisiana. He departed our world Jan. 17, 2025, at age 79.
Ron graduated from Creston High School in 1963 and from Iowa State University in 1967 with a degree in landscape architecture. He worked for the Idaho Department of Parks where he helped design portions of Ponderosa State Park.
In 1969, he moved to Spokane, Washington, and worked for a private landscaper. While there, he developed a riverfront project and joined the Jaycees, earning the state award for first-year members and represented the state of Iowa at the National Jaycee Convention.
Later, Ron returned to Iowa and had several different jobs including working for MATURA and being county assessor in Ringgold and Mahaska counties. He was a self-taught computer programmer and was self employed working for several counties on a myriad of projects for them.
He was also a photographer and had his own business in Creston shooting portraits and weddings. In 1987, Ron moved to Chicago and worked as a programmer and a technical writer.
Outside of his career, Ron had an artist’s soul, spending countless hours painting, tying flies, woodworking and capturing the beauty of the world through his camera lens. His love for nature had him often grabbing his camera and fishing gear and heading out to do what he did best: catch lots of fish and snapping a photo as proof.
On Nov. 30, 1965, Ron married Teena Lynch. Together they raised three children: Eric Charles, Brian David and Bethany Rochelle, who all inherited Ron’s love of learning, nature and family.
They survive him, along with their spouses: Susan (Eric), Missy (Brian) and Robert (Bethany), as well as his brothers, Jeffrey and Bradley Gater.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Betty Gater and his brother David Gater.
Ron adored his three grandchildren: Miranda Gater, Mason Morris and Logan Morris—who he enjoyed spending time with and sharing his love of nature, art, fishing and good puns.
A lifelong learner, Ron was always eager to discover something new. Whether it was experimenting with a new hobby, perfecting a fishing technique or learning about history his curiosity knew no bounds. Ron was a believer in the power of education and was a natural-born teacher. He loved to show others how to improve their fishing skills and often gifted them a rod, reel and a package of his tied flies to ensure they kept fishing.
In the words of Ron, “Keep your rod down, lure moving and eyes on the bobber, but don’t forget to take in your beautiful surroundings and enjoy the day. If you catch a monster, be sure to take a picture and then release it to let it fight another day.”
The family hosted an art show displaying Ron’s paintings and photography from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 31, at Orr Street Studios in Columbia, Missouri.
A second memorial service will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in the north shelter house at Green Valley Lake in Creston.