Ronald H. Kanerva

WEST BOYLSTON - Ronald H. Kanerva passed away at the age of 87 on May 24, 2023 at the Holden Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center following a brief battle with brain cancer. The son of Hans Kanerva and Miriam “Mimsie” (Poulakka) Kanerva, he was born in Worcester on April 8, 1936 and lived most of his life in West Boylston.

He leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Marilyn (Martone) Kanerva; his sister, Jolynne Kanerva and her spouse, Mona Prescott; his son, Wayne Kanerva; three daughters, Lynda Grady and her husband Michael, Kim Hopewell and her husband, Mark, and Gina Bengston and her fiancé, Bob Christopher; his grandchildren, Jessica Andersen, Jacquelene Kelly, Matthew and Daniel Hopewell and Angela Antinarella; great-grandchildren, Octavian Hopewell, Zachary Hopewell and Jake Brown; and many loving nieces and nephews. Time spent with his family brought great joy to his life.

Ronald worked for many years as the Maintenance Project Coordinator in the West Boylston school system. He was an avid golfer and bowler and enjoyed woodworking projects. He loved country music, card games with friends and vacations to Newport and Cape Cod. He was a fan of Star Trek and having helped to design space suits for the Gemini missions at the David Clark Company he had a lifelong interest in space exploration.

His affable demeanor and sense of humor endeared him to all who knew him.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30 in the Miles-Sterling Funeral & Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31 in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Church Street, West Boylston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Boylston Harold N. Keith American Legion Post 204, the American Cancer Society or the Mercy Center for Developmental Disabilities. To share a memory or offer an online condolence please visit the "Tribute Wall" on this page.