Area Family Hit Hard By Tragedy
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Even families devoted to service need help.
Ron Konkle is 57 years old. He's spent most of those 57 years helping others.
After serving in the U.S. Army and being discharged in 1972, Konkle devoted his life to his faith.
He served as a missionary for 12 years in places like Russia and Bulgaria where he handed out Bibles.
He's spent 38 years in ministry, and he's currently the pastor of the Faith Apostolic Church on Smith Street in Warsaw. The small congregation is between 10 and 15 people.
He and his wife, Sheree, volunteered, drove people to church, collected food for the poor and visited the sick in hospitals.
Things began to take a turn in 1998 when Sheree was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"She went through chemo and radiation and we thought it went into remission," said Ron. "In 2008, it came back with a vengeance pretty much."
His wife's cancer was diagnosed as terminal.
She's gone through 12 chemotherapy sessions that cost thousands of dollars each.
Then there's Konkle's 28-year-old daughter, Anna. Anna was diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome, which basically causes the discs in her back to degenerate.
According to Ron, she has a pain pack the size of a hockey puck on her at all times that dispenses medicine to help Anna deal with the excruciating pain.
Since Anna was 15 years old, she's been through 17 operations.
While caring for the women in his life, Ron began experiencing his own medical issues in April 2008.
"My face started pulling and doctors at first thought it may have been a stroke," said Ron.
After running some tests, Ron was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Ron said he was always a handy guy. He could do just about any job. Now he walks with the aide of a cane and can't climb a ladder.
That hasn't stopped Ron from doing what he can to help defray some of the medical costs his family has accrued.
Ron said that his wife's bills alone are around $250,000.
Besides his work as a pastor, Ron has also been employed with Kelly Services as a contract employee at DePuy for the past eight years. That means no health insurance unless he buys his own.
When Ron isn't working his day job at DePuy, he'll come in on the weekends to work as a security guard to try and earn extra money.
But it's just not enough.
"It's like throwing a bucket of water on a forest fire," said Ron.
Things may only get tougher for Ron when his contract with DePuy expires at the end of this month. Ron said he has the option of staying on but being limited to working 20 hours a week.
Ron said he's sold "everything that isn't nailed down" to try and stay above water.
"I've always been the type to pay my way. I'll set up payment plans and just pay whatever I can," he said.
But whatever Ron tries, it isn't enough to control that forest fire of debt.
He said he's thankful for his bosses and co-workers at DePuy who have banded together to raise money for him.
The company has held internal fundraising efforts including raffling off a scooter Ron would take to work.
"You never hear Ron complain about his situation. He's here every single day and is always so kind to everyone," said Julie Tuinstra, a DePuy employee who helped spearhead some fundraising for Ron.
Tuinstra said she felt helpless about Ron and his family's situation.
"When you work with someone for so many years, you all become like family after awhile," said Tuinstra.
Konkle said he appreciates the help and support from his work family.
But Konkle was reluctant to make his story known.
"I almost didn't want to come in," said Konkle at the Times-Union Friday morning. "I'm just in a ditch and don't know how to get out."
"I'm willing to work but I understand that not many people are going to hire a guy who can't do a lot of things," Ron said as he reached for his cane.
"It's been the greatest test I've ever had," said Konkle.[[In-content Ad]]A fund for the Konkle family has been set up at Beacon Credit Union. Those interested in donating to the Konkle family can go into the Beacon Credit Union location at 2514 E. Center St., Warsaw, and ask to donate to the Ron Konkle Benevolent Fund.
Those wishing to get ahold of the Konkle family directly can send mail to P.O. Box 1916, Warsaw, IN 46581.
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Even families devoted to service need help.
Ron Konkle is 57 years old. He's spent most of those 57 years helping others.
After serving in the U.S. Army and being discharged in 1972, Konkle devoted his life to his faith.
He served as a missionary for 12 years in places like Russia and Bulgaria where he handed out Bibles.
He's spent 38 years in ministry, and he's currently the pastor of the Faith Apostolic Church on Smith Street in Warsaw. The small congregation is between 10 and 15 people.
He and his wife, Sheree, volunteered, drove people to church, collected food for the poor and visited the sick in hospitals.
Things began to take a turn in 1998 when Sheree was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"She went through chemo and radiation and we thought it went into remission," said Ron. "In 2008, it came back with a vengeance pretty much."
His wife's cancer was diagnosed as terminal.
She's gone through 12 chemotherapy sessions that cost thousands of dollars each.
Then there's Konkle's 28-year-old daughter, Anna. Anna was diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome, which basically causes the discs in her back to degenerate.
According to Ron, she has a pain pack the size of a hockey puck on her at all times that dispenses medicine to help Anna deal with the excruciating pain.
Since Anna was 15 years old, she's been through 17 operations.
While caring for the women in his life, Ron began experiencing his own medical issues in April 2008.
"My face started pulling and doctors at first thought it may have been a stroke," said Ron.
After running some tests, Ron was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Ron said he was always a handy guy. He could do just about any job. Now he walks with the aide of a cane and can't climb a ladder.
That hasn't stopped Ron from doing what he can to help defray some of the medical costs his family has accrued.
Ron said that his wife's bills alone are around $250,000.
Besides his work as a pastor, Ron has also been employed with Kelly Services as a contract employee at DePuy for the past eight years. That means no health insurance unless he buys his own.
When Ron isn't working his day job at DePuy, he'll come in on the weekends to work as a security guard to try and earn extra money.
But it's just not enough.
"It's like throwing a bucket of water on a forest fire," said Ron.
Things may only get tougher for Ron when his contract with DePuy expires at the end of this month. Ron said he has the option of staying on but being limited to working 20 hours a week.
Ron said he's sold "everything that isn't nailed down" to try and stay above water.
"I've always been the type to pay my way. I'll set up payment plans and just pay whatever I can," he said.
But whatever Ron tries, it isn't enough to control that forest fire of debt.
He said he's thankful for his bosses and co-workers at DePuy who have banded together to raise money for him.
The company has held internal fundraising efforts including raffling off a scooter Ron would take to work.
"You never hear Ron complain about his situation. He's here every single day and is always so kind to everyone," said Julie Tuinstra, a DePuy employee who helped spearhead some fundraising for Ron.
Tuinstra said she felt helpless about Ron and his family's situation.
"When you work with someone for so many years, you all become like family after awhile," said Tuinstra.
Konkle said he appreciates the help and support from his work family.
But Konkle was reluctant to make his story known.
"I almost didn't want to come in," said Konkle at the Times-Union Friday morning. "I'm just in a ditch and don't know how to get out."
"I'm willing to work but I understand that not many people are going to hire a guy who can't do a lot of things," Ron said as he reached for his cane.
"It's been the greatest test I've ever had," said Konkle.[[In-content Ad]]A fund for the Konkle family has been set up at Beacon Credit Union. Those interested in donating to the Konkle family can go into the Beacon Credit Union location at 2514 E. Center St., Warsaw, and ask to donate to the Ron Konkle Benevolent Fund.
Those wishing to get ahold of the Konkle family directly can send mail to P.O. Box 1916, Warsaw, IN 46581.
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