Ronald J. Hotop, Ronald J. Hotop of Esko died Mon., July 17, 2006 in St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 61.

Ron was born Sept. 2, 1944 in Duluth. He graduated from Duluth East High School in 1962 and graduated from UMD in 1978 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Ron enlisted in the Navy in 1965. Ron was a employee for Miner’s Inc. and also had worked in the garbage and trucking industries. Ron married Sandra Leggate on Oct. 6, 1979 in Pine City and has lived in Esko since 1979.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Elsie Hotop.

Ron is survived by his wife Sandra of Esko, daughters Jennifer of Woodbury and Leanne of Fla.; a sister Evelyn (Howard) Rabold of Duluth, brothers Larry (Karen) of Duluth, Bob (Barb) of Saginaw, Galen “Butch” (Katy) Fry of Milwaukee, his mother-in-law Marilyn Wallgren of Superior, brothers-in-law Robert Leggate of Wisconsin Rapids, Bill (Mary) Leggate of Solon Springs and Thomas Leggate of Lake Nebagamon, sisters-in-law Kathryn Nault of Poplar, Debbie (Jack) Bachinski of Superior, Anne (Jim) Schuster of Lake Nebagamon and Penny (Scott) Larson of Wentworth, and many nieces, nephews and very good friends. “Rah-Rah” will be sadly missed by his extended day care family.

Burial in Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery.