Ronald Mark Erwin

Ronald M. Erwin

March 19, 1947 – January 10, 2022

Ronald Mark Erwin (“Ron”) passed away peacefully at home on January 10, 2022 following a brave battle with cancer.  He was a long-time resident of Madison, an active member of the local business community, and a friend to whomever he met.

Ron was born on March 19, 1947 and raised in Charleston, Illinois; the second child of Clifford and Dorothy Erwin.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one sibling.  Ron is survived by his wife Rhonda (the love of his life), two brothers, and several nieces and nephews.

Ron was a creative person with a heart of adventure, a head full of ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit.   As a youth, Ron hitchhiked around the country and graduated from high school in Spokane, Washington.  Ron served two years in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, and afterwards attended Illinois Valley Junior College.  He spent most of his early career in the building trades.   Ron relocated to Florida in the 1970’s where he met Rhonda.

Ron and Rhonda were a matched pair in personality, ambition, and energy.   They married in 1984 and soon thereafter moved to Madison where they flourished.   Ron and Rhonda owned and operated various retail entities over time including “In High Cotton” and “Laughing Moon” in downtown Madison.   Rhonda tended to the merchandizing while Ron turned his primary focus to real estate.

Ron founded a realty brokerage firm (Madison Area Real Estate Sales, LLC) which has been serving clients since 2014.  He was also an active real estate developer and investor with residential, commercial and land holdings in and around Madison.   Real estate was his passion.

Just as in business, Ron enjoyed perfecting his personal passions.  Most of the Madison community has enjoyed Ron’s famous homegrown tomatoes, which he generously shared with whomever he met.  He had an unmatched collection of “aloha shirts” sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.  Together, Ron and Rhonda enjoyed a love of music, provided a loving home for many fur babies, and produced an annual garden that was the envy of the town.

Rhonda has lost a husband and devoted partner.   Others, a good friend and able business associate.   And Madison loses an enterprising citizen who left his mark on the local landscape and business community.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.  Donations in memory of Ron Erwin may be sent to the Morgan County Humane Society (www.mchumanesoc.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).

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