Ronald Edwin Lilja, born on January 15, 1942, in Caribou Township, Minnesota the son of Nels and Olive (Oaks) Lilja, passed away on October 30, 2024 in Wausau ,WI.  He was a devoted husband to his wife, Rita Goubeaux, whom he married on June 30, 1962 in Mendota, IL. Ron was a hardworking man, dedicated to his craft as a Contractor in Tiling and Excavating. He ran his own business, Lilja Tiling & Excavating, since 1972. He was a life long member of the Moose Lodge #714 in Mendota, member and past officer of the Elks Lodge #1212 in Mendota and also past Wyoming Township board member.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Olive Lilja and his daughter Christy Lilja Aug. 3, 2019; 5 siblings: Marge Desch, Esther Underberg, Theodore Lilja, Larrie Lilja and Lettie Larter.

His memory will be carried on by his loving wife, Rita of Mendota, IL; 3 children: Becky (Kevin) McPheeters of Mendota, David (Susan) Lilja of Paw Paw and Debbie (Eugene) Bodmer of Mendota, IL; 8 grandchildren: Ashley (Eric) Pawlowski of Mendota, Brandon Smith of Nashville, TN, Erica Ince of Mendota, Jessica (Patrick) Hagerty of Yorkville, IL, Zachary Lilja of Mendota, IL, Emily (Grant) Bowne of Mendota, Grant Bodmer of LaSalle, IL and Alysa (Jacob) Guerrero of Mendota; 9 great grandchildren: Camden, Brooks and Everly Pawlowski, Lettie Ince, Jack and James Hagerty, Charlie Bowne, Joseph and Theodore Guerrero.

Memorial visitation will be held on Friday, November 8, at 4:00 - 8:00 pm at the Horner-Merritt Funeral Home located at 800 Monroe Street, Mendota. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 10:30 am at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 398 Church Rd, Compton, Illinois.  Burial of Cremated body will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Mendota.  Pallbearers will be: John Robeson, Mike Thompson, Galen Brownderville, Tod Schlesinger, Bradley Iversen, RJ Anderson, Skip Raisor, Lauren Warkins, Joe Evans, Scott Klinger, Bill Simmons and Jim Craig.  Memorials in Rons memory can be made to the CSL Foundation.  Visit www.horner-merritt.com for online guestbook and video tribute.