Obituary: Ronald Green, 80, Emeritus Professor of Education

Ronald F. Green, a professor emeritus of education at Gustavus Adolphus College, died Sunday evening at the age of 80.

Green worked for 17 years from 1974 to 1991 in the Gustavus Department of Education. Prior to coming to Gustavus, Green spent time on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Indiana University. Green also spent 11 years teaching at the elementary school level in Northern Minnesota.

Green earned his bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University in 1956. He went on to earn his master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth before earning his doctorate in education from Indiana University.

Green served as Chair of the Gustavus Department of Education from 1976 to 1986 during a time when both the State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education were implementing new and more rigorous standards. Green taught many courses in elementary education at Gustavus and was best known for his love of children’s literature. He received the Gustavus Faculty Service Award in 1990 and in 1991 earned both the Minnesota Reading Association and International Reading Association Awards for service to reading and literature.

Green was a member of First Lutheran Church in St. Peter and served as superintendent of the Sunday School program from 1978-1984. He was on the Executive Board of Project MN/Leon Nicaragua for seven years and traveled to Nicaragua five times to deliver educational and medical supplies. Green also spent time as archivist for the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association and president of the Minnesota Gymanfa Ganu Association.

Green is survived by his wife Donna, daughters Sara and Emily, son Philip, and grandchildren Sophia and Jay.

A service in celebration of Ron’s life will be held at First Lutheran Church in St. Peter at 11 a.m. Friday, March 26. Family visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 25 at First Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church, Project MN/Leon, or the Ronald F. and Donna J. Green Scholarship Endowment Fund at Gustavus.