Ronald Alan Palm took his final ride on October 2, 2026, a bright and sun-soaked 81 degree Autumn day.

Intending to just “take a short ride up 18Rd” on his cherished BMW GS1250 adventure bike, he was exuberant on this “bluebird” day. Ron loved the dream life he and his wife Dr. Janet Gordon Palm had created together, and was looking forward to grilling dinner and sharing his evening with his soulmate.

Sadly, his tired and damaged heart was unable to guarantee his safe return home this one last time, after surviving a lifetime of death defying adventures.

From 18Rd, he had made it the short distance into the BLM desert near their house before passing away quietly 45 minutes later. The cause of his passing was found to be “natural causes” from heart disease. Leave it to Ron to simply slow his speed, laying the bike down unscathed, while he passed uninjured beside it. Talk about an Adventure Riders dream exit!

Ron was born on May 13, 1955 in Minneapolis, MN to Richard A. Palm, and Marion Forystek Palm. An intelligent and precocious child, Ron had a curiosity for how things worked. He developed an early passion for cars, and all things with engines-particularly motorcycles. Ron had a thirst for speed. The faster the better!

At Minnetonka High School, his intellect was noticed and Ron was encouraged to pursue an accelerated learning program.

Upon graduation, he married his high school sweetheart Paula Russell, and settled into a career as an automotive technician. Ron and Paula were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Sarah and Michelle.

Ron had a passion for racing motorcycles. He participated in many Enduros, Hare Scrambles, Motocross, and Flat Track races, gathering awards, medals , and trophies along the way. Ron’s enduro skills also translated to exceptional abilities as a mountain biker and cyclist.

Life events saw the marriage end, but his love, devotion, and dedication to his daughters was constant as he and Paula navigated the difficulties of shared custody with empathy, dignity, understanding and integrity.

Enter Janet.

Ron’s motorcycle friend, Dave Flom, was also a friend of veterinarian Janet Gordon through their connection with the parrots he raised. At a birthday party Dave had in June of 1991, Dave learned individually that both Ron and Janet had coincidently each ridden their mountain bikes 50 miles that day, prior to coming to the party. Dave decided that these two “nut-cases” had better meet! So he set them up. And the spark was ignited!

Their first biking adventure was riding a 50 mile loop tour through Minneapolis, ending at the Stone Arch Bridge to watch the Independence Day fireworks. A Perfect metaphor for their future life!

The friendship blossomed into best friends, playmates, soulmates, and life partners as the couple pursued their combined passions. Janet loved and rode horses; Ron loved the “steel horse power”!

They both loved mountain biking, rollerblading, cross country skiing, rock climbing, camping, hiking, and just fielding softball grounders.

Packing up the car with their “toys” for a weekend trip early on, prompted Ron to proclaim that he couldn’t wait for shared history, and that his dream was to “grow old together.”

Ron and Janet married on March 23, 2001. They continued to share their home with Sarah and Michelle on weekends and more, and filled their lives with additional love from a multitude of furry, feathered, and hooved family members.

Ron continued his racing, collecting numerous awards. A pride and joy accomplishment was racing in the iconic Baja 500 in 2007- literally 12 weeks after back surgery!!!

A Master Automotive technician for Honda, and eventually Infiniti, Ron was honored in 2006 as an “Infiniti Master Automotive Technician of the Year” for North America! Ron and Janet were flown to San Antonio Texas to receive the award.

As often as they could, the adventurous duo would travel from their home in Plymouth, MN, through the Black Hills and Badlands, to their utopia of Moab Utah.

The spirit of the desert was calling them both. In 2016 they moved to their heart home and ultimate playground of Western Colorado, just an hour and a half from Moab.

Adventure, passion, mutual admiration and respect, a high play drive, prioritizing laughter, and shared spiritual, political, and moral beliefs cemented their close relationship.

Ron could recite any and all Monty Python quotes; loved film, TV, and the Arts. He passionately read and re-read science fiction books (his favorite author was Roger Zelazny). A Star Trek connection also bonded Ron and Janet, and greatly influenced both daughters! Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne were his “Spirit Humans” in song and prose.

In touch with his sensitivity and vulnerability, Ron had written songs for his beloved wife Janet, and even co-wrote a song with the couple’s friend - singer/songwriter Tricia Haynes - long ago.

Ron became active in the local MTRA club (Motorcycle Trail Rider Association, a non-profit group of Western Slope dirtbike riders) as president initially; and stayed an active member gathering numerous like-minded riding friends through that group, as well as the online Adventure Rider community. Numerous multi-day adventure rides in surrounding states, and trips back to Baja were to follow.

Eventually, conversations concerning aging and accepting the new normals gave Ron and Janet a shared appreciation for their precious gifts, living each day with the knowledge of how special they were to each other with their unconditional love.

Ron lived daily with the progressing physical consequences of his adventurous life, including inherited cardiac disease. Dedication to living his best life required regular check ups and appointments. One day while attending yet another routine appt, Janet said to Ron: “Guess what?” Ron replied “What?” Janet playfully proclaimed: “We’re living our dream! We ARE growing old together! AND we live HERE!” That always brought a laugh and a contented smile.

Ron is immensely proud of his greatest accomplishment - his two amazing daughters and their equally amazing families! Sarah is an IT Specialist at St Cloud State in MN; and Michelle and husband David Berger are aerospace engineers, David is a project manager at NASA, (where they met) and Michelle is now a stay-at-home very active Mom. The grandkids are all phenomenal in their own accomplishments, and most importantly-their inherent kindness.

Two years ago, in May 2024, Ron unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest while riding home from one of his solo adventures. A witness was present and immediate resuscitation efforts from “divine intervention” with team efforts from Fruita Police Department, Lower Valley EMS, and St Mary’s cardiac unit (where he soon received open-heart surgery), allowed him the rare opportunity to survive. Statistically, the odds of survival of cardiac arrest out in the field, let alone with no brain injury, were slim to none. It was not his time.

Ron received the first responder’s “Phoenix Award” as a survivor in May 2025. Ron knew he was given a precious gift as his time on earth was not yet over.

Sadly for us, Ron ultimately fulfilled his destiny on October 2nd, when he was called on to his next adventure. Ron has now joined with his beloved Dad - a WW2 veteran who died of heart disease at age forty, when Ron was just 10 years old. They have a lot of catching up to do!

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister, beloved family members and friends, and many pet family members.

Survivors include his wife Janet, Ron’s sister Rebecca Palm, brother Brian Palm; daughters Sarah Palm Possail, Michelle Palm Berger (Dave), grandchildren Kira and Shelby Possail, and Henry and Ella Berger. Ron and Janet’s cherished rescue cats “Tesla” and “Puma” also grieve the loss of their beloved “Cat Daddy”.

These quotes describe Ron:

“Death is certain, but its timing is unknown. You cannot control how long your life will last, but you can choose how consciously you live it. Do not wait until everything is perfect to appreciate what you have. One day, you may look back and realize that the ordinary moments you barely noticed were the very moments that made your life beautiful.”

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a Ride!”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to “The Loma Cat House”, (749 Winters Ave, Grand Junction, CO. 81501); or an animal rescue of your choice. 

A Celebration of Ron’s Life will be on November 7, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00pm at the Clarion Inn Grand Junction Airport; 755 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction. Casual dress in your favorite colors is suggested. Ron led a colorful life and those who knew him, knew that he loved dressing in bright colors!