Ron Doversberger, age 75, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2026, surrounded by family.
Ron was born in Kokomo, Indiana in 1951. He was blessed with 46 years of marriage to Linda (Everly) Doversberger. More joy came as the family grew with sons and daughters-in-law Eric Doversberger (Maria) and Mike Doversberger (Kristin) and beloved grandchildren: Thomas, Brooks, and Meroë.
Ron had a builder’s spirit. He raised his family on a farm, where he hand-built a large barn to house a number of rescue animals. Standing at 6’6”, he made sure to add a basketball hoop by the garage! He also engineered an industrial spring-mounted “spaceship” for his young sons, converted a vintage postal Jeep into a convertible with a custom canoe rack, and built a camera-mounted underwater remote vehicle to help his grandsons locate a sunken ferry in a nearby lake.
Ron also enjoyed taking cross-country family road trips and researching and writing detailed family histories. His passion for history even led him on a journey outside of Paris to trace his father’s WWII deployments.
Ron’s path to his life’s work began in third grade when a dog was injured and his grandma nurtured it back to health. He knew at that point he was going to care for animals for the rest of his life. He graduated from Purdue University in 1975 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and went on to proudly practice at Magrane Pet Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana from 1976 until his retirement in 2019.
Ron cared deeply for pets and their owners alike. Over his career, he was honored with veterinary awards from the American Animal Hospital Association and the St. Joseph County Humane Society. He also served as President of both the Michiana Veterinary Medical Association and the Animal Emergency Clinic.
Ron and Linda retired and relocated to Holland, Michigan to be closer to grandchildren. Ron loved boating and the coastal lifestyle. He developed remarkable, lasting friendships with those in the community.
Ron is embraced in heaven by his parents, Ken and Ruth, his sister, Marilyn, and his firstborn son, Matthew, who passed away shortly after birth.
Ron will forever be remembered for his kindness, wisdom, compassion for animals, and deep devotion to family.
Ron and Linda’s family and friends are invited to celebrate and honor Ron’s life at a casual open house. There will be light refreshments and brownies (Ron’s favorite), as we share many heartwarming memories.
Date: Tuesday, June 30th
Time: 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Bayshore Yacht Club on Lake Macatawa (1862 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland, Michigan 49424)
Entrance: The location is on the second floor above an outdoor restaurant. Exterior stairs are on the north side of the building.
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