Ronald "Ronnie" Keith Kaper , 88, of Joaquin, passed away Friday, February 10, 2023, at his home in Joaquin.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, February 20, 2023, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Bro. Hollis Bass will officiate.  Interment will follow at Old Home Cemetery in Shelby County.

Born May 12, 1934, in Galveston, Ronnie is the son of August Kaper, Jr. and Inez Skillman Kaper.

Ronnie grew up in Galveston and proudly served his country in the Navy from 1957 to 1962, receiving several good conduct medals and achievement awards.  Ronnie worked at Sterling Chemicals as a manager of plant operations until his retirement in 1989.  It was at that time he was able to fulfill a dream that he shared with his wife Pauline to build a ranch called Kaper's Acres raising cows and horses.  Together they owned many acres in Joaquin which they used for working cattle, farming the land and growing hay for their cattle.  You could find Ronnie on his tractor and Pauline outside happily working together from sunrise to sunset mending fences, tending to cattle, bailing hay or farming.  In the home they built together they welcomed family and friends for many years.  Ronnie was a member of Old Home Baptist Church in Shelby County.

He is survived by his children, Randy Kaper and wife Abbie, Scott Kaper, Pamela Cunningham, and Georganne Palmer and husband James; grandchildren, Randle Kaper and Julie, Michelle Kinnan and husband Peter, Jason Kaper, Katrina Armstrong and husband Billy, Zack Kaper and wife Desserea, Michiel Lemaster, Richard Shafer, Jamie Trevino, and Christopher Shafer; caregiver/friend Sheila Dixon and 10 great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by wife, Pauline Kaper; sons, Timothy Kaper, George Allen Goodwin; daughter-in-law Sherry Kaper and his parents, August Kaper, Jr. and Inez Kaper.