Ronald P. Zejdlik

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/sr-JIzjuMwE 

Ronald Zejdlik, 65, of Grand Forks, died on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Altru Hospital. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. at Amundson Funeral Home in Grand Forks. Visitation will be one hour before service time.

Ron Zejdlik was born February 1, 1957, in Grand Forks to Bernard and Marie (Kohl) Zejdlik. He attended school in Grand Forks and while at St. Michael's Elementary he was a faithful altar boy.  He went on to Valley Junior High, then Central High School, graduating in 1975.  Ron was a Grand Forks Herald newspaper carrier for 8 years, which allowed him to begin his lifelong hobby of baseball card collecting. 

He joined the Air Force in 1975 and was an avionics technician stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. He was honorably discharged on August 10, 1979. On June 14, 1980, he married Judy Stewart. He attended tech school in St. Paul before beginning his career with Fujitsu. Moves to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Elk River, Minnesota, Flowood, Mississippi and Allen, Texas followed.  He returned to Grand Forks in 2019.

Ron was a fighter. After having to wear leg braces as a young child, he went on to run cross country track for Central High School.  In 2008, he valiantly fought and beat Stage IV throat cancer and remained cancer-free for the rest of his life. A hemorrhagic stroke in 2017 forced him to retire from the work world, but he remained optimistic and worked hard at physical therapy.  He restored his ability to walk without aid and was happy to see a Frisco Roughrider baseball game with his granddaughter.

Sadly, the stroke took its toll and Ron died peacefully with friends and family by his side.

We can't think of Ron without thinking of baseball.  Through the years he was a participant in many APBA baseball leagues and loved getting together with his baseball friends.  He enjoyed attending baseball games in Texas with his sons.  Retirement was going to include traveling with Judy to as many major league baseball stadiums as possible, but the stroke fouled those plans.

Ron was very proud of his sons and was delighted to become a grandpa in 2017.  He loved to play games of any sort. Some of the card games played at home in Allen became legendary and must include mention of Ron and Judy’s honorary son, Trent Wondra, who participated in many of those games.  Ron loved western movies and shows and loved debating his sons on the virtues of John Wayne vs Chuck Norris.  Keith, Josh and Nick will long remember the many movie days with their dad; they never missed a Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter or super-hero movie.

Ron is survived by his wife Judy; sons, Keith (Elizabeth) Zejdlik of San Antonio, TX; Joshua (Fenny) Zejdlik of Pasadena, MD; Nicholas Zejdlik of Leonard, TX; granddaughter Elara Zejdlik; brothers James (Sandra) Zejdlik of Grafton, Charles Zejdlik of West Fargo, Shawn (Kelli) Zejdlik; one sister, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents.     

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to St. Joseph's Social Care or North Country Food Bank.  

Following the funeral service, there will be a reception beginning at 4:30 PM at the East Grand Forks VFW, 312 Demers Ave.