Remembering RV, Campground Icons Who Passed in 2023 – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News

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The RV and private campground industries lost several pioneers in 2023 who had a significant impact on growth and development across the country as well as on state and national campground industry associations.

These industry leaders include:

Aram Koltookian

A respected industry executive and THOR division head, KZ President and CEO Aram Koltookian, 53, passed away May 3. he was also a general manager at Keystone RV and an executive vice president of Dutchmen RV.

Mahlon Miller

Mahlon Miller, 83, “a pillar in the Nappanee community and a pioneer in the RV industry” in which he served as president of Holiday Rambler Corp. before leading Newmar Corp. to a preeminent slot in the motorhome business, passed away March 30.

Dan Pearson

St. Cloud, Minn., RV dealer Dan Pearson of PleasureLand RV Centers, a former RVDA chairman and Go RVing Coalition co-chair who died in early October.

Chuck Kastler, 86, passed away Dec. 10, at his home in Las Vegas, Nev., after a brief illness. The former publisher of iconic consumer-related industry magazines like Trailer Life, MotorhomeandHighways as well as the Trailer Life RV Parks & Campgrounds Directory as well as RVBusiness.

Ron Duncan

Ron Duncan, 79, formerly of Elkhart, Ind., died Nov. 17, at his home in Auburndale, Fla., following a stroke, according to his obituary. Duncan had ownership in several companies including Sprinter Homes, Trailblazer, Sun Land, D&D Customs, Duncan Systems and Duncan RV.

Mekkelsen RV founder John E. Mekkelsen Sr., 100, passed away on Oct. 31. He also served at a national level on the Board of Directors for the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), and the Coachmen RV National Advisory Board.

Helen Merilyn Ann Parks (née McIntyre), 95, founder of Camp-Out RV, Stratford, Ontario, passed peacefully on Oct. 21. She was the founder of Camp-Out RV in 1962 and was one of the pioneers of women RV dealership owners of her era.

James Charles (Jim) Niemeyer Sr., 88, founder of Niemeyer Trailer Sales with locations in Albertville and Elko, Minn., passed away Sept. 29. Founded in 1965, Niemeyer Trailer Sales now has three generations of the Niemeyer family on its staff.

Tom Watters

One of the initial organizers of the Texas Recreational Vehicle Association (TRVA), Thomas “Tom” James Watters Sr., 81, passed away Sept. 29. Watters president of TRVA twice, serving initially in 1979-80 and again 1991-92.

An RV industry sales representative who worked for Mallard Coach Co. Inc. and Holiday Rambler Corp. among others, for over 40 years, Larry D. Weaver, 79, passed away Aug. 24.

Michael A. “Mike” Higley, 74, of Edwardsburg, Mich., passed away March 31. He spent most of his life working as a salesman in the RV industry until his retirement from Suburban Manufacturing in 2012.

Diane White

Diane White, 86, founder of United RV Center in Texas, passed away on March 21. Diane and her late husband, Bill Sr., were active leaders in the Texas RV Association (TRVA) and RVDA.

A Celebration of Life event for Mike Snell, a well-known sales executive and friend to many in the RV industry over the years, who passed away Nov. 21, 2022, took place May 6 in Eugene, Ore.

Richard “Dick” Daniel Cripe, 88, of Syracuse, Ind., formerly of Goshen, passed away on March 10. He was the president of Turtle Top, which manufactures small- to mid-sized buses built on Chevrolet, Ford and Freightliner chassis.

Kelly Green

Kelly Green, 49, product sales manager for XLR Boost Toy Haulers of Forest River RV, died Feb. 13. Other stops in the RV industry included Fleetwood RV and Dutchmen Manufacturing.

Bruce Alan Bryant, of Legacy RV Resorts: Bryant, who passed away on May 9, owned and operated 14 RV parks in 11 states through his Legacy RV Resorts company. His holdings at one point included five Jellystone Park Camp-Resort locations in five states.

Dr. Saundra Bryn

Dr. Saundra Bryn: Dr. Bryn, a longtime educator and award-winning Arizona RV resort operator who was widely known for her many years of volunteer service to both Arizona ARVC and OHI, died March 7, in Arizona. She was 78. Bryn received OHI’s Chairman’s Award in 2016 in recognition of her many years of service on OHI’s education and public affairs committees.

Richard Carroll: Carroll, a longtime pillar of the Jellystone Park franchise network, died July 25, at age 84.

David Gorin

David Gorin: Gorin, a longtime lobbyist, campground industry consultant and RV and Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame recipient who helped establish OHI as the voice of the North American campground industry, died June 11 at his Florida home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 78.

Randy Jenkins

Randy Jenkins: Jenkins, who passed away June 14 at the age of 67, was a longtime park operator who served on the boards of both the North Carolina Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, which is now part of the Carolinas Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (CARVC), as well as OHI.

George O’Leary

George O’Leary: O’Leary, who died Sept. 25 at the age of 92, was an Irish immigrant and longtime Tucson, Ariz. resident who developed and operated the two award-winning Rincon Country RV Resorts. During his nearly half-century in the RV park business, O’Leary became nationally known for his service and support for the RV park industry, serving on the boards of both the Arizona Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (Arizona ARVC) and OHI.

Marjorie Morton Otto

Marjorie Otto: Otto, who died on July 26 at her home in New Bern, N.C. at the age of 79, was a co-executive director of the New Jersey Campground Owners and Outdoor Lodging Association (NJCOA) with her husband, Jay, for 25 years.

Karen Weber

Karen Weber: Weber, who died on Nov. 17, was the owner/operator of Mid-America Camp Inn in Goodland, Kan. for over 41 years.

Sam Zell: Zell, a Chicago-born son of Polish immigrants who was chairman of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of RV resorts and mobile home parks, died May 18 at the age of 81.