Ron Lorenzo
Ronald G. “Ron” Lorenzo was born in LaJunta on July 10, 1936, and died in Holyoke on June 12, 2023.
The family will be greeting friends on Monday, June 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Tennant Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 27, at 10 a.m. at Tennant Funeral Home, with Rev. Jared Sonnenberg officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, and a luncheon will be at Riverview Golf Course.
Ron was born to Rocco and Grace (DiDomenco) Lorenzo. Ron graduated from LaJunta High School in 1954, where he participated in the marching band and was an Eagle Scout. Ron developed a love for the Native American culture as he was a member of the Koshare Indian Dancers and a member of Troop 232. Ron was a chief of the Sioux Nation, and his specialty was the Native American hoop dance, due to his small stature.
Ron traveled all over the country performing with his troop. He was honored at the 75th anniversary at the Koshare Indian Kiva located on the Otero College campus. Ron graduated from Otero Junior College in LaJunta in 1956 while working for the Santa Fe Railroad. He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy in 1959.
Ron moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he worked for Upjohn Pharmaceuticals as a traveling representative. During his years he frequented Sterling, where he met Bob Walker of Walker Pharmacy. In 1964, he took a job as a pharmacist at Walker Pharmacy, making Sterling his home.
In 1974, he had the opportunity to fulfill his dream of becoming his own boss and purchased Barnes Pharmacy at 210 Main St. from Bob Barnes. Barnes Pharmacy later moved to their current location at 422 Main St.
Ron’s passion was his pharmacy and love of his patients. He would greet his patients by name, knew their family and talked about life. Ron never met a stranger, and he cared for every patient from all walks of life with the same compassion and respect.
Ron taught his employees, whom he treated as family, the value of customer service and how to “Make it Rain.” Ron had a remarkable influence on his current and former employees. If you have never wiped a sink dry after washing your hands or mixing medications in the pharmacy, you never worked for Ron Lorenzo.
In 1974, Ron married Barbara “Barb” Cooper. They were blessed with two daughters, Jenae and Marisa. In 1978, Barb joined Ron at Barnes Pharmacy where they made a very successful business with pharmacy and gifts. They would have celebrated 49 years of marriage in September. Ron and Barb dedicated their life to their business and family.
Ron was a lifetime member of the Elks Clubs, Lions Club, Logan County Chamber of Commerce, Sugar Beet Days Planning Committee and other various organizations. Ron received the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Program Implementation Award in 2004 and The West Region Pharmacy of the Year Award in 2005 and 2007. He was honored by the University of Colorado as a Legacy Pharmacy in 2002.
Ron and Barb enjoyed traveling in Colorado, the United States and many destinations abroad. Some of his favorite trips were Italy, Switzerland, China, Australia and many more. Ron and Barb loved going to Arizona, Sante Fe and their cabin, where they spent time with their daughters and grandchildren. Ron enjoyed boating, collecting clocks, old pharmacy and apothecary items, Kachina dolls, pottery and other Native American pieces.
Ron spent his later years at Regent Park Nursing and Rehab in Holyoke, where he was a constant source of laughter and entertainment. He had two special friends, Ray Gerk and the late Howard Einspahr. He was loved by his devoted caretakers Joni Taylor, Shirlee Patten, Julie Kotch, Kimber Hadeen, Adriana LegSan and Bonnie Galvin.
Ron loved the University of Colorado football team, where he was a season ticket holder for 53 years. He loved John Elway and attended the Denver Broncos games. Pharmacy and taking care of his patients was his passion. He was hardworking and took pride in his home and yard. He loved his family and his Barnes Pharmacy “family.” Everyone knew Ron. He had a special place and softness in his heart for his six grandchildren.
He leaves his wife of 48 years, Barb Lorenzo; his two daughters, Jenae Lorenzo and Marisa (Lorenzo) and Travis Stull; his six grandchildren, Reese and Tayvn Lock and Kallaway, Hudson, Hadley and Hank Stull; brother-in-law, Bill and Val Cooper and family; sister-in-law, Deb (Shelabarger) and Waldo Roth and family; and sister-in-law Nancy (Shelabarger) and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rocco and Grace Lorenzo; in-laws, Dale and Flora Shelabarger; sister, Frances (Lorenzo) and husband Gary Switzer; sister-in-law, Jean (Noelle) Cooper; and son-in-law, Matthew Lock. He is also survived by sons Michael, Stephen and David Lorenzo.
Memorials can be sent to the Ron Lorenzo Memorial Fund in care of Tennant Funeral Home, 330 S. 2nd St., Sterling, CO 80751.