Ronald Kelchen, 61, of Monticello, died Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at his home with his family at his side.

Funeral services will be held a 11 am Saturday, May 2, 2026 at SS Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, rural Monticello. Rev. Holly Knouse will officiate. The family will greet friends from 9 am to the time of service. The Monticello Fire Department will serve as Honor Guard during the visitation. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Monticello. Following services at the cemetery, there will be a Celebration of Life held at the Berndes Center from 12 to 3 pm. Please use the Guestbook to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences.

Ronald John Kelchen was born on December 6, 1964 in Monticello, the son of Phillip and Virginia (Gudenkauf) Kelchen. He graduated from Monticello High School in the Class of 1983. On February 13, 1988 he was united in marriage to Shelly Ludwig at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Anamosa.

Upon graduation, Ron started a career in construction and never looked back. He worked for various companies including Sun Insulation, Advanced Construction with friends Tony Kraus and Tom Oberbreckling, and in 2017 started working with and for his son Josh, at Premier Home Solutions. He was a member of the Monticello Fire Department and would often remark that it was "the easiest yes he ever made."

He enjoyed travel, camping, woodworking, being outdoors, and, best of all, spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren – because in the end, it was "all about them."

Ron is survived by his wife of 38 years Shelly, his children Josh (Allison), Nicole (Cory) Reyner, and Travis, his grandchildren Lincoln and Emersyn Reyner, and Owen, Madalyn, and Olivia Kelchen, his siblings Marvin (Sandy), Mark, Cheryl (Shane) Classen, Cindy (Ryan) Stock, and Christy (Chris) Arthur, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.