Obituary: Ronald F. Gamache, former secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 688

Helped defeat RTW in 1978

Ronald F. Gamache, former secretary-treasurer and principal officer of Teamsters Local 688, died March 25, 2016.

Brother Gamache served as chairman of the United Labor Committee of Missouri, which helped defeat Missouri’s right-to-work referendum in 1978, and was a member of Civic Progress.

Brother Gamache started out as a clerk and shop steward at Campbell 66 Express in 1954. He was appointed a Local 688 organizer in 1956, a business representative in 1958 and organizing director in 1963.

In 1965, Brother Gamache became the union’s director of servicing, and in 1968 he was named by the Central Conference of Teamsters as director of warehousing for the Midwest region.

In 1973, Brother Gamache was initially appointed, and subsequently elected as Local 688’s secretary-treasurer, the union’s chief executive position. He continued to serve in that capacity until his retirement in 1991.

Local 688 Secretary-Treasurer Mike Goebel was hired by Brother Gamache in 1989, and said Brother Gamache stayed active in the union and the Labor Movement long after his retirement.

“What was so nice about Ron, even after he retired he never disappeared,” Goebel said. “He came to all of our functions. He was very active in supporting us right up until the end.”

Brother Gamache is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Gamache (nee Mackle); children Mark (Cheryl), Joyce (Richard) Moellenberg, Joanne, Ronald K. (Kristi), Robert (Meredith), Barbara and the late John (surviving Donna) and Nancy Gamache; grandchildren Paul, Annemarie, Michael, Jane, Jonathan, Curtis, Madeline; great-grandchild Elijah; sister Marlene Brown, and brother Roland Gamache. He was preceded in death by his sister Gloria Eime. He was also an uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend to many.

A funeral was held March 30, with internment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

The family has requested donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.