READFIELD - Ronald W. Neilson, 81, of Readfield, formerly of Quincy, Mass., and Weymouth, Mass., and North Leeds, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Boston to William R. and Katherine MacLeod Neilson. After graduating from Weymouth High School, he attended Bangor Theological Seminary before joining the Navy and then the Army. He was stationed in Germany during the Korean War and retired a lieutenant colonel with the Army National Guard. Mr. Neilson worked for Bethlehem Steel Co. in Quincy, Quincy Savings Bank, and South Shore National Bank as a branch manager. He also worked in the State House in Augusta and was a substitute teacher in Maine schools for several years. He had also been involved with the Readfield Fire Department and had been a selectman in the town of Readfield for several years. Mr. Neilson was a past master of Manet Lodge and past Monarch of Taleb Grotto, both in Quincy. He recently became a member of Lafayette Lodge 48 in Readfield and had been a member of the Post 21001 American Veterans in Maine. He had been an avid collector of trains for all of his life, but his greatest joy in his later years had been his three grandchildren. Ronald was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Malcolm Neilson; his wife of 28 years, G. Helen Neilson; and his stepson, David D'Angelo. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy (Neilson) and William Connor, of Goffstown, N.H.; his daughter-in-law, Alicia (Reynolds) D'Angelo and her three children, Anthony, Elizabeth and Nicole, of Readfield; his stepson and daughter-in-law, John and Lamai D'Angelo, of Aurora, Colo.; three sisters-in-law and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Relatives and friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. A committal service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11, in the new Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Memorial donations may be made to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330; or Androscoggin Hospice, P.O. Box 819, Lewiston, ME 04243. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.khrfuneralhomes.com